Machiavelli’s book, The Prince, was considered a radical departure from previous western works on political power. What was one of the reasons it is consider so radical?
1 It advocated that rulers should also consider their daughters, and not just their sons, as valid candidates for the succession of power after the ruler dies.
2 It did not give any religious or moral consideration in the restraint of a ruler’s action to either acquire or maintain power, in short: the ends justify the means.
3 It reminded the ruler that he was still God’s subject, just as the citizens of a realm were his subjects, and therefore the ruler needed to set a moral example for all to follow.
4 It advised a ruler that a democracy was the best form of government and that a hereditary ruler should peacefully transfer power to an elected government.