Understanding the Reason of State in the Philosophical Works of Niccolo Machiavelli

Every state has its own reason of survival whether it is democratic or undemocratic, constitutional or
unconstitutional, tyrannical or republican. Thus, the concept of reason of state depends on the nature
of the state. Reason of state in a democratic order is different from that of undemocratic state. This
study gave more emphasis on the philosophical works of Niccolo Machiavelli. Based on his
philosophical works, the study argue that Machiavelli’s reason of state in The Prince, even though it is
implicit, is tyrannical or “reason of power” in its character and not fit for human habituation. On the
other hand, his thought in the Discourses promotes constitutional reason of state. As a result, different
thinkers considered him as one of the advocator of constitutional reason of state. However, in his
totality Machiavelli used The Prince as a means for the Discourses. Methodologically,Hermeneutic
analysis was employed in order to understand the true essence of the Political Philosophy of
Machiavelli.