The Prince and the Modern ExecutiveFew people question the place of the prince in the canon of Western literature. That it marks a turning point in our collective history, the origin of the study of politics as a science (Pollock 43), is sufficient in itself to justify its classification as a “Great Book”. Its author, Niccolo Machiavelli, a contemporary of Copernicus, is generally considered one of the earliest contributors to the scientific revolution, because he examined the power and nature of sovereignty through the eyes of a scientist, focused entirely on science. objective, without regard to religion, morals and ethics. The way they govern often differs significantly from the way they should govern, according to medieval Christian virtues. Sir Frederick Pollock wrote that in Machiavelli we find "for the first time since Aristotle, the pure passionless curiosity of the man of science." We find the separation of ethics and politics… Machiavelli takes no account of morality” (43). Machiavelli considers a successful ruler to be above morality, since security and expansion of the state are the supreme goals. rejection of morality since the Greek sophists. His ideas contrast sharply with the traditional teachings of the Church. It is no wonder that The Prince was added to the index of banned books and remains today one of the most criticized and controversial books ever written. is a scientific investigation into power conservation tactics. It’s about applying power in pursuit of a greater goal. It is above all about leadership, although it is doubtful whether Machiavelli realized the considerable impact of his work. the application is timeless and partial...... middle of paper ......l to read The Prince and, if they have already read it, reread it As with all true "Great Books", with each successive reading. reveals new ideas and perspectives. The Prince, although sometimes disturbingly cold and frank, is no different. Works Cited Butterfield, Herbert. The political art of Machiavelli. New York: MacMillan, 1956. Jones, W. T. Masters of Political Thought. Ed. Edward, McChesner and Sait. Flight. 2. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1947. Lewis, Wyndham. The Lion and the Fox: The role of the hero in Shakespeare's plays. London: Methuen, 1951. Machiavelli, Niccolo. The Prince. Trans. Hill Thompson. Norwalk: The Easton Press, 1980. Pollock, Frederick. An introduction to the history of political science. London: MacMillan, 1935. Ruffo-Fiore, Silvia. Nicholas Machiavelli. Boston: Twayne Publishers, 1982.