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Chapman University

Modesto Center

Liberal Studies 300

Critical Analysis of The Prince and Wall Street

 Please respond to each of the following questions in paragraph form.  Please type your answers, using proper style and grammar and put into your notebook. 

1. Analyze the reasons The Prince should be free of all moral and ethical values.  Do you agree or not and why?
2. Explain Machiavelli’s views on whether it is better for a ruler to be loved or feared.
3. Discuss the Machiavellian axiom of “the ends justifies the means.”  Do you agree or disagree? Why? Did Bud Fox’s ends justify his means in Wall Street?  ? Did Gordon Gecko’s ends justify his means? 
4. How is Gordon Gecko like Machiavelli’s Prince? Would Machiavelli have approved of his actions and/or decisions? Why? Give specific examples to explain your answer.
5. Evaluate and explain the use of Art of War tactics and Machiavellianism in the movie Wall Street, use examples to explain your conclusions.
6. Machiavelli’s masterpiece, The Prince, is still read and valued by modern leaders, politicians and rulers.  Which ruler, throughout history, do you feel is most like Machiavelli’s Prince and why?  Who is not like Machiavelli’s Prince and why not? Use specific examples.