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To act in a machiavellian way is to act as though the ends justify the means.
Which I realize is not terribly precise, so allow me to be more specific. Niccolo Machiavelli was a political philosopher/writer during the renaissance in Italy. He is most famous for his book (very short) which was titled "The Prince" (which just means ruler.) The general theme of the book is that you should not worry about doing what is right or wrong, and instead worry about doing what is effective.
For example. Let us say that there is a ruler of a country, and the peasants of this country are rebelling.
A moral ruler would try and negotiate with the rebels, to ensure that bloodshed was kept to a minimum; that way everyone would be as happy as possible.
A machiavellian ruler would (probably) get his army together, crush the rebellion brutally, and make examples of the leaders.
Machiavelli would argue that the second course of action would be much much better. This way, the rebellion is put down quickly, and more to the point, future rebellions are much less likely. If whenever people rebel you give them what they want, they are likely to rebel again. If every time people rebel you kill them horribly, people lose interest in that sort of thing.
In short, in this circumstance, Machiavelli would argue that it was better to kill those people (even though killing is an immoral action) because it would be better for the ruler (and arguably for the country as a whole.)
I realize this is a fairly long answer, but I hope it is helpful. By the 16th century, as Italy's troubles mounted, this tendency to free politics from any relationship to religion became an important part of the thinking of a number of distinguished Florentine writers, including the best known, Niccolò Machiavelli. Stimulated by the political crisis of his time, Machiavelli sought to base statecraft or the art of governance on science rather than on Christian principles. He focused on how to preserve the state by any effective means. His acceptance of the principle that the end justifies the means, so bluntly expressed in his most famous work, Il principe (1532; The Prince, 1640), reflects the degree to which the new political environment had changed popular thinking.
What else can I help you with?
What word means 'morally flexible'?
A word that means 'morally flexible' is "unscrupulous." This term describes someone who is willing to bend or break moral rules for personal gain.
What does Machiavellian mean?
Niccolò Machiavello (1469-1527) was a figure of the Italian Renaissance. He was a capital figure in politics and in one of his books he wrote that "the end justifies the means" (which should be understood in context )though) Unfortunately, many careless readers interpreted that any evil action can be justified if it is done for a good purpose. And the word "Machiavellian" is often used to describe a crafty, secret or tricky plan.
How is naploeon known as machiavellian?
Napoleon is known as Machiavellian because he was often perceived as using cunning and deceitful tactics to achieve and maintain power. He was known for his strategic thinking, political manipulation, and willingness to do whatever was necessary to achieve his goals, much like the principles outlined in Niccolò Machiavelli's book "The Prince."
What does philobotomy mean?
Philobotomy is not a recognized term. It may be a misspelling or a non-standard term.
What do you mean by shunaka?
"Shunaka" is a term that can be translated to mean "dog" in Sanskrit.
What term fits this definition a cunning or evil person?
Machiavellian
What does it mean if someone says they are Machiavellian?
the end justifies the means
What does it mean to call someone Machiavellian?
Calling someone Machiavellian refers to their use of cunning, duplicity, or deceit to achieve their goals, often at the expense of ethics or morality. The term is derived from the political philosophy of Niccolò Machiavelli, who suggested that the ends justify the means in politics. A Machiavellian individual may manipulate others and exploit situations for personal gain, demonstrating a pragmatic and often ruthless approach to power and influence.
Why do you say Machiavellian villain is there any Machiavellian who is not evil?
no there isn't
Why was don Quixote written?
Because the term is based on the actions of the character. In the same way, Niccolò Machiavelli is machiavellian.
What is a Machiavellian villain?
A Machiavellian villain is a character portrayed in literature who is in a sense a "puppet master". He uses other "tool villains" in order to get what he desires. A Machiavellian villain always operates in secrecy, concealing his true intentions from everyone.The term is based off the philosophies of Machiavelli, a political philosopher who wrote The Prince- a treatise that outlines the most effective way for a king to govern.
Was HItler a Machiavellian leader?
no
Was Henry VIII more of an Renaissance man or machiavellian?
machiavellian because he always favoued himself and many people were scared of him
Which term fits a cunning or evil person?
A devious person is often seen as cunning or evil, as they manipulate or deceive others for their own gain.
What is a word for Excessively harsh?
Machiavellian.
Who is a modern Machiavellian politician?
aaron doyle
What is Machiavellian Theory?
"the end justifies the means"
