Machiavellian Ethic or Lack Thereof

In response to: "The Prince is a concise statement of Machiavelli's belief that classical and Christian political theory is unworkable in a world that defines politics as the exercise of power and the struggle for power. It is also implicitly a rejection of a nihilistic counterethic, that only power and brute force matter."

Machiavelli does believe that a Christian political theory is unworkable. In his book, The Prince, Machiavelli argues for pragmatism-a viewpoint I believe is diametrically opposed to Christian political theory. God is concerned with conforming everything unto his likeness and not with gaining or maintaining power. God expects all rulers to rule as he does-that is equitably, honestly, honorably, nobly, etc.

I disagree with the second statement-"It is also implicitly a rejection of a nihilistic counterethic, that only power and brute force matter." Machiavelli actually defends a nihilistic counterethic. He advises rulers to act only to maintain power and by taking a secular viewpoint, Machiavelli precludes the existence of a political ethic. God is the foundation for all ethics and thus there can be no right or wrong action apart from His existence.