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...in the Middle Ages : This 5 paper looks at Machiavelli's and Boccaccio's ideas in examining the differences between reality and appearance. The two works discussed are The Prince and The Decameron. No additional sources cited. SA142reartf


Machiavelli had said that men in general judge with the sense of sight as opposed to the sense of touch, and this has to do with the fact that everyone can see with their eyes but only a few can judge through feeling. While everyone sees what one seems to be, according to Machiavelli, few know who one really is. Machiavelli, and Boccaccio as well, have been concerned with the difference between appearance and reality. In other words, they suggest that whatever one sees is not necessarily valid. Anybody can see with their eyes, but feeling or touch requires a sixth sense in order to render judgment. This idea brings up many questions and prompts one to question his or her own existence and behavior....