Final answer:
The excerpts from Machiavelli's 'The Prince' signify a shift to a political philosophy centered on realpolitik, prioritizing practicality in maintaining power over moral guidelines. This approach underlines that the end justifies the means and advocates for the ruler's effectiveness in governance over ethical considerations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The excerpts from Niccolò Machiavelli's The Prince reflect a significant shift in political thinking during the Renaissance period, particularly concerning the nature of power and governance. Machiavelli's work suggested that rulers should be more concerned with the practicalities of maintaining power rather than adhering strictly to moral principles. The shift is best summarized by the phrase: realpolitik, which denotes a system of politics based on practical rather than moral or ideological considerations.
Machiavelli's emphasis on the power dynamics in politics, where the end justifies the means and where it is sometimes better to invoke fear than love as a method of control, represents a drastic departure from the classical and medieval philosophies which often intertwined morality and governance. His views laid the groundwork for modern political theory by introducing the concept that governments should be judged on their ability to maintain state power and achieve results.