POWER AND AUTHORITY IN NICCOLO MACHIAVELLIS THOUGHT: AN ETHICAL EVALUATION
ABSTRACT
What power is and what authority is inform some serious concerns in philosophical arena. For the many, power is the ability to do something, while authority is the power to give orders and enforce obedience. There are so many views on these concepts. But in this work, we expose how one could (or should) acquire and apply power as postulated by Niccolo Machiavelli.  It also, however, articulated some problems associated with Niccolo Machiavelli’s position and proffered some solutions.  
TABLE OF CONTENT
CHAPTER ONE: GENERAL INTRODUCTION
1.0    Introduction¬¬¬¬¬¬¬                         
1.1    Background of the Study                
1.2    Statement of the Problem                 
1.3    Purpose of the Study                 
1.4    Scope of the Study                    
1.5    Methodology of the Study                 
1.6    Significant of the Study                 
1.7    Literature Review                     
    Endnotes                          
CHAPTER TWO: THE CONCEPT OF “POWER AND AUTHORITY”
2.1    Definition and Nature of “Power”             
2.2    Types of Power                    
2.3    Definition and Nature of Authority    
2.4    Some Philosophical Consideration         
    Endnotes                     
CHAPTER THREE: MACHIAVELLI ON POWER AND AUTHORITY
3.1    Life, Works and Influences         
3.2    Analysis of “the prince”                 
3.3    The Nature of Man                     
3.4    Power vis-à-vis Authority                 
    Endnotes                     
CHAPTER FOUR: EVALUATION AND CONCLUSION
4.1    Criticism of Machiavelli                     
4.2    Evaluation                         
4.3    Conclusion                     
    Endnotes                     
    Bibliography                 
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
    This thesis is centered on the notion of Niccolo Machiavelli’s conception of power and Authority. One will then ask what is “power” and what then is “Authority”? Are they of the same concept.
“Power” can be defined as the ability to do or enforce a thing, while authority on the other hand can be described as the power or right to command. However in this thesis I shall be reviewing the concepts of power vis-à-vis authority as used or been prescribed in a political and social organization by Niccolo Machiavelli. Here we need to understand the idea of power as to whether it is related or has a close link to authority. In our contemporary world today power is been confused for authority, meanwhile it has been a great debate that the idea of power is one and the same with that of authority.
    Subsequently, in this thesis I shall try to marry both concepts of power vis-à-vis Authority to see if it matches with that of the great political philosopher Niccolo Machiavelli in the realization of political empowerment.
1.1    Background of the Study
    Thus goes the “diati” question, why Machiavelli? Why should anyone want to feel the need to reconsider the doctrine of Niccolo Machiavelli? Although there truly is so much tangible and visible originality in Machiavelli scholarship. There are equally so many downright distortations written about him.
    Systematically, power and authority without being dependent on each other or any other in perspective Niccolo Machiavelli is capable of invoking a work or research of some sort. Reason be that there is a discomforting view on the concept of power and authority  and how to provide a marriage between them.
    Most philosophically and critically power can be define as the ability to do or enforce a thing1. While authority in the other hand can be also be defined as the power or right to command. It is the very essential to clarify this two concept because of it confusion in terms of language and as well in terms of thought. When we talk about giving the prince “power” to do this or that, when we equally mean giving him authority, sequentially  we administer the going beyond one’s legal “power” or acting ultra views as to the word authority”.
    Subsequently, I this background I am driven with the passion to dispassionate analyses the essence of power and authority in Niccolo Machiavelli’s thought.
“Any man who tries to be good all the time is bound to come to ruin among the great number who are not good. Hence a prince who wants to keep his authority must learn how to be good, and use that knowledge, or refrain from using it, as necessity requires3”.
In examining  the current or frequent usage appear rightly a the philosophical discussion of Jean Bodin in the 16th century in his work title sovereignty is the absolute and perpetual power of a state … that is to say the Supreme Being ultimate power to command. Jean Bodin goes further to speak of absolute and perpetual power and so affirms that sovereignty is a matter of power in the ordinary sense of the word.
    However Niccolo Machiavelli saw stable and efficient political authority and order as necessary and most important for social  cohesion and moral development. Niccolo Machiavelli stressed the need for a unified politic and also a republican and free government.
    Niccolos Machiavelli’s works include the following. THE PRINCE, THE DISCOURSE, THE ART OF HAR, THE COMEDY, MANDRACON A SATIRE ON SEDUCTION. Further more, in 1520 Niccolo Machiavelli was secured to write a history of Florence by cardinal Giulio de’ medici which he finished in 1525. Note, the prince maintain the heart beat through the journey of this thesis.
1.2    Statement of the Problem
    What is a problem? A problem is a proposition stating something to be done the work to be done on this thesis is an ethical evaluation of the concept of power and authority in Niccolo Machiavelli’s thought respectively.
    However Niccolo Machiavelli’s thought dead for over four hundred and seventy five years now, still have his name reigning as a by word for cunning, evasion  and the exercise of bad faith in political affairs, the cascade of negativism published about him by many notable philosopher and scholars. The question now is, are all these negative analysis and interpretation of Machiavelli true?.
    With the quest to give an understanding of Machiavelli’s political thought, has arisen many ambivalence of interpretation following the above line of though the cumbersome task of x-raying and tele-graphing Machiavelli political thought through an understanding of human nature is what this work seems to achieve.
    Meanwhile we need to ask what is the structure and what exactly are the functions of power vis-à-vis. Authority is any superior to or more relevant than the other? If yes then which. To what extent can one be dependent on or independent of the other is power and authority one and the same? If not, how and to what state do they differ. Who or what can exercise  power or authority and what limits are there. Why power and why authority.  Philosophically speaking the answer to this variable question above as ad-infinitum.
    However in the cause of this thesis write-up, conscious attempt will be made or observed to effect possible progress duly figured out.
1.3    Purpose of the Study
    The purpose of this thesis is to consolidate on the acquisition and sustenance of the concept of power and authority as proffered in the political thought of Niccolo Machiavelli.
    This topic has been a triggered issue that has been expecting a write-up as to the clarification of the both concepts, like have mentioned above that the concept of power and authority is often confused at different time and in different  aspects. This observation and notation constitute a major and distinct reason why in this work.  I am establishing the most attainable clarification concerning the nature of the concept of power vis-à-vis authority lastly, I shall try to fuse both concept as been determined by Niccolo Machiavelli.
1.4    Significance of the Study
    Most often, we witness and observe occurrence of events in governance, but only those exposed to, a basis understanding, especially from a more coherent philosophical viewpoint can successfully grasp reality of such happening independent of necessary falling pray to the hands of whatever disguised form the present themselves.
    However, the idea of power and authority may  not be all there is to the political cosmos. In this , I intend to reconstruct and diffuse or hopefully reveal some extra about the already self evident, in the progress of this thesis, I believe enormous achievement and success which will constitute a model system through which most guised political transactions can be established or formed.
1.5    Scope of the Study
    This work is limited to Niccolo Machiavelli’s conception of power and authority that has been driven for a psychological analysis of human nature. More modify, this work shall illustrate how Niccolo Machiavelli provided a justification for his conception of power and authority by trying it down to human nature.
1.6    Methodology of the Study
    In the methodology of this thesis, I shall try to give an ethical evaluation. Talking  about evaluation it simply involves the critical analysis of it constituent  parts in order to investigate its structure and functions. With this toot of analyses therefore, I shall mantle the pending chapter of this thesis from a brief historical analysis though necessary and sufficient research.
    Meanwhile, relevant contributions from  available sources, factual documented and so forth will be enacted progressively, then follows criticism to play it part of necessary.
1.7    Literature Review
    As regard this topic, many refined authors have written about the term “concept of power” and authority from various point view. But in this thesis, we are mostly concerned with Niccolo Machiavelli’s idea on power and authority. However in other to achieve my set goals of written  pm tjos topic, I have reviewed some books on power which are  been authored by non-philosopher. Meanwhile the reviewing of “the prince” will be most essential, the discourse, Art of War. The 48 laws of power will be highly welcomed, including history of political thoughts. “Niccolo Machiavelli the prince translated by N.K. MARRIOT” is relevant in other to achieve my aim and purpose in his work, and it is to this purpose that this book becomes useful. The book9 present a succulent presentation of Machiavelli’s practical thought in politics, it is in Machiavelli work, the prince that his Manuel of holding political office is expressed with a more practical method which the prince or monarch in other sense must employ in order to given a community effectively7.
    This can be achieved by the prince through the effective use of power as regarding authority so what Machiavelli produces in the prince is a set of prescriptions for the successful management of a state through the procurement of power, the clear presentation of Niccolo Machiavelli’s political thought in this book guide our scope of argument, so that we do not just base our understanding on distorted views.
REFERENCES
1.    Geddes and Grosset, Webster’s Universal Dictionary  and Thesaurus, p. 380.
2.    Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary 8th Edition, p. 83.
3.    The 48 Laws of Power, Robert Greece, p.1.