Unknown. Machiavelli, The Prince. CMilli. CMilli, 31 Jan. 2016. Web. 28 Feb. 2016.
In Chapter 10, Machiavelli discusses how one should assess the strength of the conquered states and he employs syllogism when he writes, “… men are always enemies of undertakings that appear difficult, and it cannot seem easy to attack a man who holds his own town gallantly and is not hated by his people…Thus a prince who has a strong city and does not make himself hated cannot be attacked” (p. 72). The major premise is that men are enemies of undertaking difficult tasks and the minor premise is that it doesn’t seem easy to attack a prince who protects his town and who is not hated by the people he rules. The conclusion reached is that a prince who has a strong and protected city and who isn’t hated can’t be attacked. The logic and truth of the premises are supported by the example of Germany which attests to notion presented in this syllogism. But, this conclusion could be proven untrue with examples of fortified cities led by princes that were not hated that were attacked in history.
In Chapter 7, Machiavelli explains, “Those who, through fortune alone, pass from being private persons to being princes do so with little labor, but they maintain themselves with a great deal of labor… they have no difficulty on the way, because they fly into place, but all of the difficulties arise once they are in place…These persons rely simply on the will and fortune of whoever has granted it to them, and those are two things that are very volatile and unstable, and they neither know how nor are able to maintain that rank… if he is not a man of great genius and virtue, it is not reasonable that after always having lived in private fortune a man should know how to command” (p. 58). The conclusion in this enthymeme is that private persons who become princes only through fortune have little difficulty in gaining their position, but have great difficulty in keeping their power. The explicit premise is that it’s unlikely that private persons that become prince through others’ fortune will know how to command. The implied premise is that you need to know how to command to keep your power. Recreated into a syllogism, the major premise is that it’s necessary to know how to command in order to keep your power and the minor premise is that it’s unlikely that private citizens who rise to power through fortune know how to command. The conclusion is that princes who gain their position only through fortune great difficulty keeping their power. Both premises are logical because people who lived their whole life as private citizens and suddenly easily became prince through others’ powers are likely too inexperienced to command their acquired land and history proves that rulers who lack the capacity to command are unable to hold their power. However, an example of a successful/powerful prince who gained his position through others’ fortune can easily disprove the truth of this conclusion.
Works Cited:
Machiavelli, Niccolo, and William J. Connell. The Prince: With Related Documents. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2005. Print.
War: Through the Eyes of Humans 