I took Machiavelli's "The Prince" out of the library last week. When I have the time, I will keep you up to date as to the timely pearls of wisdom included therein. It might be a while, since I am on vacation.
Posted by Yehupitz at July 1, 2004 12:47 PMI think you'll like it.
In chapter 18, Mac argues that a leader should lie, and cheat and steal - when necessary. I don't agree, but clearly some conservative American presidents (Reagen and GWB) thought he was right.
You could argue that Clinton, who also lied like he breathed, took Mac's advice, too. That's an interesting question for discussion, though: Were Clinton's lies, in this sense, Machivellian? Reagen's lies about Iran/Contra and GWB's lies about Al Queda and Iraq were certainly Machivellian. But do Clinton's Lewinsky lies belong to this category? I'm not sure. I could argue it either way.
Another question: Are Machivellian lies preferable to ordinary lies? I think this ones easy: I think Machivellian lies are worse; but I'd be pleased to read your view.
1- Is reading The Prince good for your neshamah?
2- Doesn't it teach you how to act in a non-yosher way?
3- If you apply these ideas in your pulpit, then what sort of a spirtiual leader are you?
I am not against reading secular literature, haas veshalom, but it seems like you are using it as a source of wisdom.
4- Does your Orthodoxy amount to no more than George W Bush's Christianity?
1- I don't know. I heard it's a guidebook for rulers of countries. I haven't ever read it.
2- I don't know. I heard it's a guidebook for rulers of countries. I haven't ever read it.
3- I don't know. I heard it's a guidebook for rulers of countries. I haven't ever read it.
4. um...No.
Posted by: yehupitz at July 2, 2004 05:39 PMhttp://jewishurbanlegends.blogspot.com/
Something new. How do you like it, Rabbi?
Posted by: Julie at July 5, 2004 10:00 PM