Political Science · Western Political Thought
UGC NET June 2019 Political Science
Given below are two statements, one labelled as Assertion (A) and the other labelled as Reason (R). On the basis of the two statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below.
Assertion (A): In Machiavellian thought the end justifies the means.
Reason (R): The key objective of the prince was to bring unity and integrity of the State.
ABoth A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A ✓ Correct
BBoth A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A
CA is true, but R is false
DA is false, but R is true
Correct answer: (A) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A — Both the assertion and the reason are true, and the reason correctly explains the assertion, since the prince's end of a unified and secure state justifies the means.
Explanation
★Both the assertion and the reason are true, and the reason correctly explains the assertion, since the prince's end of a unified and secure state justifies the means.
★Machiavelli's maxim that the end justifies the means is the core of his political realism.
★The supreme end is the unity, stability, and integrity of the state, above all a divided Italy he longed to see united.
★To reach it the ruler may use force, deceit, and cruelty well used, judged only by results.
★He advised the prince to be ruthless when necessary, feared rather than loved, and ready to act like both lion and fox.
★This subordination of morality to the reason of state is what later writers labelled Machiavellianism.
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