Editing Niccolò Machiavelli (section)

===Terminology=== 

'''Stato'''

Another term of Machiavelli's that scholars debate over is his use of the word ''stato'' (literally translated as "state"). Whenever he uses the word, it usually refers to a regime's political command to which a leader takes a hold of, and rules over himself.<ref>{{cite journal | url=https://doi.org/10.2307/2857143 | doi=10.2307/2857143 | jstor=2857143 | title=Il principe and lo stato | last1=Hexter | first1=J. H. | journal=Studies in the Renaissance | date=1957 | volume=4 | pages=113–138 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | url=https://doi.org/10.2307/1957561 | doi=10.2307/1957561 | jstor=1957561 | title=On the Impersonality of the Modern State: A Comment on Machiavelli's Use of Stato | last1=Mansfield | first1=Harvey C. | journal=The American Political Science Review | date=1983 | volume=77 | issue=4 | pages=849–857 }}</ref> Generally he believes that in all states, there exists two humors, that of the great, who wish to rule and oppress others, and that of the people, who do not seek to oppress.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://aeon.co/essays/the-prince-of-the-people-machiavelli-was-no-machiavellian | title=The prince of the people: Machiavelli was no 'Machiavellian' &#124; Aeon Essays }}</ref> Glory plays a central role in Machiavelli’s political thought, drawing heavily on the Roman ideal of gloria, which emphasized public recognition for one's achievements, especially in warfare or public service.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://iep.utm.edu/machiave/ | title=Machiavelli, Niccolò &#124; Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/26226962 | jstor=26226962 | title=Machiavelli's Inglorious Tyrants: On Agathocles, Scipio and Unmerited Glory | last1=McCormick | first1=John P. | journal=History of Political Thought | date=2015 | volume=36 | issue=1 | pages=29–52 }}</ref>

'''Republicanism'''

The majority of scholars have taken into account Machiavelli's admiration of, and recommendations to republics, and his contribution to republican theory. Machiavelli gives lengthy advice for republics in how they can best protect their liberties, and how they can avoid those who would ultimately usurp legitimate authority.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://theconversation.com/500-years-ago-machiavelli-warned-the-public-not-to-get-complacent-in-the-face-of-self-interested-charismatic-figures-226434 | title=500 years ago, Machiavelli warned the public not to get complacent in the face of self-interested charismatic figures | date=5 June 2024 }}</ref> Even in this, commentators have no consensus as to the exact nature of his republicanism. For example, the "Cambridge School" of interpretation holds Machiavelli to be a civic humanist and classical republican who viewed that the highest quality of republican virtue is self-sacrifice for the common good.<ref>Pocock, J. G. A. The Machiavellian Moment: Florentine Political Thought and the Atlantic Republican Tradition. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1975.
</ref> However this opinion has been contested by scholars who believe that Machiavelli has a radically modern view of republics, accepting and unleashing the self interest of those who rule.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_6uGCnKH6aAC&dq=Renaissance%20Civic%20Humanism%3A%20Reappraisals%20and%20Reflections%2C%202000%20(ed.)&pg=PA12 | title=Renaissance Civic Humanism: Reappraisals and Reflections | isbn=978-0-521-54807-6 | last1=Hankins | first1=James | date=2000 | publisher=Cambridge University Press }}</ref><ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=I9t_0R0KI4wC&dq=spirit%20of%20modern%20republicanism&pg=PA52 | title=The Spirit of Modern Republicanism: The Moral Vision of the American Founders and the Philosophy of Locke | isbn=978-0-226-64547-6 | last1=Pangle | first1=Thomas L. | date=15 October 1990 | publisher=University of Chicago Press }}</ref> Some scholars have even asserted that the goal of his ideal republic does not differ greatly from his principality, as both rely on rather ruthless measures for conquest and empire.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yCsxDwAAQBAJ&q=citizen+machiavelli | title=Citizen Machiavelli | isbn=978-1-351-52848-1 | last1=Hulliung | first1=Mark | date=5 July 2017 | publisher=Routledge }}</ref><ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wLY2tlPZqvsC&q=hornqvist+empire | title=Machiavelli and Empire | isbn=978-1-139-45634-0 | last1=Hörnqvist | first1=Mikael | date=25 November 2004 | publisher=Cambridge University Press }}</ref>