A Closer Examination of Paolo Sarpi and the Uses of Information in the Seventeenth-Century Venice Paolo Sarpi was a scholarly friar who was a driving force in trying to change government policy concerning the distribution of information and played a significant role in the politics of seventeenth-century Venice. Through his political ties and extensive information networks, he managed to make known his thoughts on just how powerful information could be in the proper as well as improper hands. Looking at Sarpi’s scholarly and political contributions during this time period serve to show that he was a profound and progressive thinker whose ideas on the happenings within Venice and beyond revolved around three major themes of communication studies: that media allows us to “experience” distant events as they occur via information networks, that media, such as the avvisi, influences thought, psychological organization, and social and institutional organization, and that the media are never neutral as shown by propaganda charged political writings (Black, Chunn, Edwards and Heyer 2). The reference article, Filippo De Vivo’s paper Paolo Sarpi and the Uses of Information in the Seventeenth-Century Venice, is structured very much like a standard essay in that it has an introduction, thesis, supporting paragraphs for the points brought up by the thesis, and a conclusion. The title of De Vivo’s paper is an accurate depiction of what the subject matter pertains to which is about Paolo Sarpi and the uses of information in Venice during the seventeenth-century. Background information regarding Venice and its information network start the paper off. It is then established that information that was once only available to the elite classes such as merchants and politicians was then made available to the masses as a saleable commodity in the form of newsletters called avvisi (De Vivo 37). His network expanded beyond that which was available to the common people and he had access to information only available to one with political ties such as his and predictably he made great use of those sources. Besides having written correspondences with ranking officials of other nations, which had severe consequences if caught doing so, Sarpi would regularly meet with both domestic and foreign merchants and other travelers to discuss the happenings abroad, which also frowned upon by the government. The thesis of the article is introduced as an explanation of Sarpi’s use of the newly developing means of information (38). To do this,
As an idealist, compelled by the detailed imagination of the Venetian, he listens and intervenes within interludes of these chapters. They both start off by exploring the wonders that behold these cities. This gradually led them to question the reality of what has been imagined or is their imagination idealized to the point that it has become their reality. The book is a reflection of how everything interweaves with one another; the mind, matter itself and time all have a relation that are part of our reality. These were broken down throughout each chapter and demonstrated how a city’s foundation is made up of these thoughts and translated through its construction from which its people produce and live within.
In early 15th century Western Europe was just starting to recover from epidemics, famine, and feuds that lasted centuries. The city-states of Italy were beginning to look back to the classic Greek and Roman civilizations to re-study old scrolls and
After five hundred years, Niccolo Machiavelli the man has ceased to exist. In his place is merely an entity, one that is human, but also something that is far above one. The debate over his political ideologies and theories has elevated him to a mythical status summed up in one word: Machiavelli. His family name has evolved into an adjective in the English language in its various forms. Writers and pundit’s bandy about this new adjective in such ways as, “He is a Machiavelli,” “They are Machiavelli’s,” “This is suitable for a Machiavelli.” These phrases are almost always the words of a person that understands more about Niccolo’s reputation than the man himself. Forgotten is that Machiavelli is not an adequate example of the ruler he is credited with describing; a more accurate statement would be to call someone a “Borgia” or a “Valentino.” Most of the time they are grossly mistaken in their references. All these words accomplish is to add to the legend, and the misinterpretation, of the true nature of Niccolo Machiavelli.
Machiavelli and Sent to Zanobi Buondelmonte and Luigi Alamanni, His Dearest Friends. London: Hesperus, 2003.
For most contemporary readers, Niccolò Machiavelli is a name synonymous with deceit, cunning, and manipulation, a reputation which stems almost entirely from his authorship of one of the central works of modern political philosophy: The Prince. Given this image, it is incredibly ironic that the Italian word virtù and its derivatives appear no less than seventy-two times throughout the work. While the translator goes to great lengths to adapt this versatile word to the context of the situation, it is nevertheless clear that virtù is closely related to its English cognate virtue. This, along with the political nature of Machiavelli’s work, shapes the discourse about the nature of princedoms into one in which the author explores the more fundamental questions of how a prince should act. Ultimately, virtù comes to signify not only virtue in a traditional ethical sense but also skill, manliness, and strength of character, Roman virtues retooled and molded for modern statecraft and the challenges of Machiavelli’s Italy.
Urbanization is defined as the “act of making urban in nature or character (Urbanization). An understanding of urbanization is central to understanding the components behind the Roman rule of Italy, and the process of bringing together different cultures. The operations, particularly of the elite, of the Roman society are essential in the understanding of urbanization as well. Cities then were not what they are today, in regards to economic assemblies. The Roman cities were as much an arena for social and political interaction, as they were for economic exchange. By studying urban development in the Roman society, we are able to get an inside perspective of the powerful insight that have changed the ideals of the Roman cities.
In offering his own world view and knowledge to the Medici family, Machiavelli draws a considerable amount of his resources from classical figures and ideology. While Machiavelli is writing for a prince, whose goal would be to gain in territory, power, and control; his philosophy ties simply into less vital victories in the lives of common people. In this paper I will explain the points where he differs and conforms from/to the classical ideology in the generalized context of a leader. He uses these in one of two ways, by agreeing with and reinforcing them, or by refuting them. While Machiavelli keeps the need for a leader to have independence, seriousness, loyalty, and intellect; he rejects the necessity of generosity, mercy, and honesty, in favor of the outward appearance of these virtues.
The sections that I will be presenting are 73, 74, and 75. I will discuss the political ideas of Niccolo Machiavelli, Francesco Guicciardini, and Thomas Hobbes during the time of Florence Republic. First, Niccolo Machiavelli was born in Florence, Italy in 1469 at a time when the country was in political upheaval. Italy was divided between four dominant city-states, by which each of them was always at the mercy of the continual changing of princes and governments.
The premise of decadence was tremendously popular in late 19th century European literature. In addition, the degeneracy of the individual and society at large was represented in numerous contemporary works by Mann. In Death in Venice, the theme of decadence caused by aestheticism appears through Gustav von Achenbach’s eccentric, specifically homoerotic, feelings towards a Polish boy named Tadzio. Although his feelings spring from a sound source, the boy’s aesthetic beauty, Aschenbach becomes decadent in how excessively zealous his feelings are, and his obsession ultimately leads to his literal and existential destruction. This exemplifying, as will be examined in the following, how aestheticism is closely related to, and indeed often the cause of, decadence. Although the narrative is about more complexities, the author’s use of such vivid descriptions suggest the physical, literal aspect of his writing is just as important to the meaning of the story.
The whole book centers around what principalities are, what are the different types of them, how to acquire and maintain them and why they are lost. The first three chapters set the scope of the whole book and provide a preview of the main concerns in the book. Then Chapter VI and Chapter V are used to present several practical methods to dealing with different matters for rulers. These matters include the acquiring and maintaining of a new state, forming alliance, internal insurrections and so on. In the following two chapters, the book turns to the topic of different qualities of good rulers. Machiavelli puts forward the discussion about virtue and good will in this section. He maintains that sometimes rulers should have vicious actions without the accordance with real virtue for the good of the states and ruling. In the last chapter, the book focuses specifically on the disunity of Italy. In this chapter, Machiavelli gives his own understanding and explanation for the failure of past Italian rulers and pleas for an eligible ruler in the future. He asserts that only Lorenzo de’ Medici, can restore Italy’s honor and pride. This chapter somehow reveals Machiavelli’s intention and purpose of writing The Prince.
Italy is known for its architectural achievements, beautiful constructed arches and domes which have inspired and influenced designs in many other countries. In Dan Brown’s novel, Inferno, the city Venice is portrayed in a blissful way through Robert Langdin’s encounters with the monuments, the city’s character, and the people. Dan Brown’s knowledge of literature and history vividly described which allow us, the reader, to relive each scene’s emotions and brings the book to life. The main spots in Venice were described in great detail with metaphors and personification. Saint Marks Basilica and Doge’s place mentioned in the book in detail are the main points of interest in Venice. As a tourist one would usually visit these historical places in Venice. Dan Brown uses a lot of imagery to describe the Byzantine architecture, and Gothic style of both these destinations. He leads the reader on a journey of Italy’s history which makes the reader want to gravitate to these lovely places and experience the global cultural city of Venice.
In late 1513 and early 1514, during a time of extreme political uproar in Florence, Italy, Nicolò Machiavelli wrote the very famous political tract, or handbook as many call it, known as The Prince, to Lorenzo de’ Medici as a guide to help him stay in power. Although Lorenzo protested many of Machiavelli’s recommendations, the now published “book” represents themes such as war craft, virtue, free will, human nature, and goodwill, and to this day remains an epic classic without a disbelieve.
Aristotle and Niccolò Machiavelli were two great minds from completely different times, both having rather different views on the world, that touched on many similar points throughout their respective works Politics and Machiavelli’s various writings. This occurred because Machiavelli was illustrating his positions directly against Aristotle’s theories, which allows for an interesting comparison between the two’s opinions on a variety of issues. While Politics is more of a discussion for the populous and The Prince was specifically made as a sort of guidebook for the future ruling class, they can still be compared based upon their similar topics of discussion regarding political goals and the opposing points that need to be avoided. This combined with The Discourses, which was an analysis of the Roman republic and why it was so successful, provide a rather comprehensive view of Machiavelli’s core beliefs. The concept of differing worldviews is key to understanding the similarities and differences between the two as they come from very different basic places of opinion when regarding the overall goal of politics. Aristotle came from a position of lofty, boarding on impractical, goals with the effort of creating the concept of the good life for its citizens, in which they could expand and flourish. Machiavelli on the other hand worked on a much more practical scale of thought, focusing on concepts of gaining power, and control, while maintaining stability as the main goals of participating in politics. Both however stated a vast array of necessary requirements for achieving the best political scenario along with opposing points to avoid, and in turn theories on how to distinguish between the two. In this paper, these two great poli...
During the time 1469, a child by the name of Niccolo Di Bernardo Del Machiavelli was born. Some may know him as an Italian philosopher, humanist, or an evil minded fellow associated with the corruptness of totalitarian government. In Machiavelli’s home state of Florence, he introduces the modern political theory. Hoping to gain influence with the ruling Medici family, Niccolo wrote a pamphlet called The Prince (Prezzolini). Niccolo lived a nondescript childhood and his main political experience in his youth was watching Savonarola from afar.
Cornell, Tim, and Kathryn Lomas. Urban Society in Roman Italy. London: Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2005. Print.