Težave z Machiavellijem

Abstract

The author tries to show that the famous axiological motto “the goal justifies the means”, usually seen as the central point of Machiavelli’s doctrine, cannot possibly be attributed to him. The Machiavellian teachings as just a collection of instructions how to overthrow one government and establish another are equally indifferent to the questions of morality. That is the reason why all supposedly immoral means suggested by this political thinker were technically fully adapted to the goal. Since for him the goal actually determines the means, he did not have any reason to use the famous axiological motto: “The goal justifies the means.”

Keywords

• machiavelli
• politics
• government
• ethics
• means
• goal