Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli. Specifically,

¶ … Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli. Specifically, it will address three questions regarding the writing. Many people feel "The Prince" is a work that can easily translate to modern day corporate and military ethics. Machiavelli discusses several ideas with relevance to life today, and for the most part, his ideas make sense at just about any time and in any country, but they may not be the most popular or ethical choice for many people. Many people have hailed "The Prince" as a text relevant to modern business and politics.

The book tells those in power, like executives and politicians how to grab and maintain power, and how to use evil or cruelty effectively. In fact, Machiavelli supports just about any kind of behavior if it maintains power or is for the overall "good" of those it affects. He writes, "[P]rudence consists in knowing how to recognize the nature of disadvantages and how to choose the least bad as good" (Machiavelli 76).

Thus, most executives and politicians can be justified in committed indiscretions and hostile acts if they chose the "least bad" alternative and it helps them maintain power. He also advocates cruelty if it serves the user. He writes, "Well used are those cruelties (if it is permitted to speak well of evil) that are carried out in a single stroke, done out of necessity to protect oneself, and are not continued but are instead converted into the greatest possible benefits for the subjects" (Machiavelli 32).

All of these ideas may help an executive, corporation, or politician maintain power and influence, but they are not necessarily the most ethical approach to business. Unfortunately, as the news reports just about every week, corporations and those in power are corrupt and unethical. Look at the Enron scandal, lobbyist Jack Abramoff and the ethics scandal he created in Congress, and the all too common "hostile takeover" of one business over another.

Ethics seem to be far removed from much of modern politics and business, and that is why so many people see "The Prince" as a text for the modern powerful executive. It basically approves of just about any behavior as long as the company survives, and that is music to many people's ears. Machiavelli's advice has little to do with "do unto others as you would have them do unto you." He writes as a man of science and logic, rather than a man of ethics and morality.

Machiavelli felt a prince or leader stood above others, and so, was above moral judgment, because his actions were always to maintain and control power for the good of the people, and they would always be seen as honorable, no matter what. How he maintained power really did not matter in Machiavelli's eyes.

He writes, "Let a prince therefore act to conquer and to maintain the state; his methods will always be judged honourable and will be praised by all; for ordinary people are always deceived by appearances and by the outcome of a thing" (Machiavelli 60). Today, that is no longer the case. People question ethics and morality, and expect their leaders to act honorably, rather than simply maintaining power at the cost of others.

Some of the advice the book offers is sound, but most of it is objectionable to many modern, ethical readers. Machiavelli.