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During Machiavelli's time, society was much different than it had been for previous philosophers. Instead of storing up good works, so as to enjoy paradise, as the medieval man did, the Renaissance man was interested in all things, enjoyed life, strove for worldly acclaim and wealth, and had a deep interest in classical civilizations. Machiavelli thought that classical tradition was wrong in its understanding to humans, and argued that human personality is divided between a part that is self interested and a part that wants to live kindly with others. Because the natural human nature of people wants to be divided and because people are socialized, socialization he claims, can make the part that is self-interested become dominant. This then leads people to want power. And because of this, in Machiavelli's eyes, we cannot have a completely good society based on the fact that because the worst, most self-interested people always rise to the top therefore the rulers of a society......

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