Introduction:
Niccolo Machiavelli broke away from the traditional view upheld by medieval thinkers which looked at the state in terms of its ethical and moral ends. He ignores the ethical end of the state and says that the state is an end in itself and not a means to an end. It is not the state's duty to promote the people's moral values.
Machiavelli's theory of moral indifference is based on his study of the church in Italy. He denounces all church doctrines and holds the church responsible for the plight of the state's affairs. The state, according to it, should adopt every measure that suits to acquire, retain and expand the power and for this purpose no care should be taken of what was right and wrong. He actually subordinates ethics to politics; according to him; there is no place for morality and or region in politics.
Machiavelli's immoral views:
1: State is an end in itself and end justifies everything. So the prince should adopt all kinds of measures to achieve and preserve that end.
2: The prince should be deceitful in the interest of the state.
3: The Prince should be very cruel. He should have the courage of lion and the cunnings of fox. Force and fraud are the main shields in the hands of the Prince.
4: The Prince must set fear in the mind of his subjects. People should nbe terrified by adopting the policy of harshness.
5: According to him, cruelty is better than mercy. Virtues bring ruin and vice brings security, therefore, the Prince should not be virtuous.
6: Hypocrisy is essential for prince. Let mercy on his tongue and evil in his heart.
7: The prince should tell lie in the interest of the state and he should not be truthful. He should not be concerned with truth and the salvation of the soul.
8: The prince should crush the rebellions. The use of force should be at once and for all. Slowly and gradual use of force creates resentments in the minds of his subjects.
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