Thus, in order to achieve this goal, the leader must only exploit the peoples desire for self-defense and their need to maintain social cohesion or unity among society. Machiavelli and Rousseau, both significant philosophers, had distinctive views on human nature and the relationship between the government and the governed. I think that Machiavellis advice provides a sound basis on how leaders today can lead. Machiavelli saw human nature as duplicitous. Throughout his writings, Machiavelli subscribes to a consistent theory of human nature. At one place in 'The Prince' he says," Men are ungrateful, fickle . submit it as your own as it will be considered plagiarism. Having studied and experienced Italy's political situation, Machiavelli derived these views. Before Machiavelli, almost all thinkers and political personalities believed and propagated and promoted religion as the basis of the state. While learning about these two philosophers and their proposed theories, I noticed an innate relationship in the discussion of societys human nature. Throughout our study of political theory this semester there seems to be a recurring theme prevalent in each of the readings . According to Machiavelli, human nature is. It is this that enables one to make generalizations about politics. Therefore, the course of action that the prince can best control is what he should pursue. Machiavelli had a thorough knowledge about human nature. In fact, presenting the Roman Empires platform helped the reader to thoroughly understand Machiavellis political theory regarding governance and the, Machiavellis The Prince presents a realistic account of the qualities necessary for political success. In Machiavellis, The Prince, he states that, Men never do good except out of necessity, but when they have the freedom to choose and can do as they please, everything becomes confused and disorderly (182). Thus Machiavelli believed that the best form of society was one where the Prince ruled his kingdom. The Prince, This is a significant analysis of Niccolo Machiavellis book The Prince. Need a custom essay sample written specially to meet your to help you write a unique paper. Machiavelli the prince human nature Rating: 8,9/10 1083 reviews. That a prince's people should fear him. This means that the way the political and commercial world operated it was hard to achieve nobility or even decency without making someone else worse off. Machiavelli is a strong advocate to use fear to herd together the common man, he begins his argument by asking a simple question, Here the question safer than to be loved. Copyright 2022 IPL.org All rights reserved. of human nature and politics have not changed since antiquity. My view on human nature is that it is affected by a persons attitude and their environment. Islam views human from two different perspectives; spiritual and metaphysical. All rights reserved. There are many different qualities that make a man a good ruler but there are some that are more essential than others. No matter the interpretation of how a ruler should lead, Machiavelli's analyst of a leaders provides insight into everyday life and causes leaders today to think about how they. "Men are quick. Machiavelli believed that diplomacy, unlike military service, was of no significance for civic virtue, and that in foreign policy it was no substitute for arms and money. Machiavelli and More are each often described as "humanists." Does it seem reasonable to you to group them together as part of the same "movement" or intellectual trend? "5 Machiavelli further goes on to question the loyalty of the citizens and advises the Prince that "because men a wretched creatures who would not keep their word to you, you need keep your word to them. Despite the illusion of religion, the abstract human face is absolutely the idea of human spirituality. The use of lying and deception in politics is moral, because they are essential tools utilized by politicians to maintain the overall wellbeing of the society. Written in the early 16th century, the book is often seen as . Believes in a prince attending to his own self interests and leaving the people alone (as it could potentially cause conflict and hatred) Does the political community shape or merely restrain human nature? He feels that men respond more strongly to fear than love. But since the two rarely come together, anyone compelled to choose will find greater security in being feared than in being, Machiavelli says this because when a Prince is feared people will respect him and do what he says and they will love him and praise him. More in Utopia and Machiavelli in The Prince present views which stand in stark contrast to one another, emphasizing More's generally more positive view and Machiavelli's decidedly more negative view. That is why I believe in. This explains the link between people's nature as captured by Machiavelli, and the leadership style suggested by him. Machiavelli's view of human nature was not in accord to that of humanists who felt that an individual could greatly contribute to the well being of the society. Free resources to assist you with your university studies! Yet he may be feared without being hated if he refrains from touching their property and their woman kind of his subjects, and if he avoid bloodshed excepting when there is good cause and manifest justification for it is in as much as men more easily forget the loss of their father than of their property. With it he tends to say that man so much is in love with his priorities that he can go to any extreme and even turn evil to protect it from danger, Machiavelli here also mentions that apart from property men is also insecure of his women and that if anyone is eyeing their women they tend to be aggressive and then it comes up to their ego, this idea or thought of Machiavelli can be seen even today. We hate on others, we are jealous of others, we waste things when we are not supposed to, like food. His viewpoint on ruling was that a ruler must do whatever they can in order to improve the state no matter what, or in his words The ends justify the means(The Prince). Nevertheless, it enhanced the virt of even the strongest prince. Whereas soul (nafs), in its downward or corporeal tendency, is attached to the body and in its upward or spiritual tendency, is attached to the spirit. Ethical beliefs are Platos main focus in a government. He makes the generalization that men are, "ungrateful, fickle, liars, and deceivers, they shun danger and are greedy for profit; while you treat them well they are yours. This fear is very low in the leader that is loved because of the respect and admiration in which he is held by his people. From Islamic perspective, human are dualistic possessing both a body and a soul. Machiavelli's and Hobbes' Views on Politics and Human Nature Essay If you need assistance with writing your essay, our professional essay writing service is here to help! See how Italy beseeches God to send someone to save her from those barbarous cruelties and outrages; see how eager and willing the country is to follow a banner, if someone will raise it.18, Although Italy had become the center of intellectual, artistic and cultural development, Machiavelli did not feel these qualities would help in securing Italy's political future. Both Hobbes and Locke see human nature differently, Hobbes sees people as being run by selfishness whereas Locke says that people are naturally kind. He advocated this style of governance because we live in a jungle - an ugly universe without ethics. These two viewpoints had great influence during their time and for centuries to come, both with modern ideas and correct ideas even though they had a lot of contrast. The book provides historically tested and proven principles of leadership. Therefore, I will bring a compelling conclusion on how Russian President Vladimir Putin is a modern Machiavelli. If your specific country is not listed, please select the UK version of the site, as this is best suited to international visitors. The Prince and its ideas can even be seen today in our modern day presidents and kings proving that Machiavelli had compelling ideas and arguments for how leaders can obtain and hold a position of power successfully., The understanding of human nature and the effects it has on the individual and society has been a serious topic in the philosophical world. A good leader is able to have respect, loyalty, and an efficient workforce, which can all be easily obtained by a leader who is loved. The content of the book is based on his observations and descriptions of human behavior. Machiavellis views regarding politics, religion and morality are essentially based on his view of human nature. On other hand, others may argue that Machiavellis advice leads rulers astray and rather rulers should be kind and generous because morally that is the right thing to do. Machiavelli writes: Italy is waiting to see who can be the one to heal her wounds, put and end to the sacking of Lombardy, to extortion in the Kingdom and in Tuscany, and cleanse those sores which have been festering so long. Thus the ruler in order to rule should be highly pretentious and if he pretends to the masses then they would be easy to rule conditioned that the ruler should protect their initial priorities regarding safety and security of them their family and their property. So what Machiavelli had thought and perceived about this centuries ago is still very much there and prevails in the present context. Machiavelli, on the other hand, prefers to be in control and tells people this in The Prince. Which will be easy to do if he protects their interests (Machiavelli 32). The lion is fierce but doesnt have the smarts, while a fox has the smarts but isn 't fierce. This is evident in many businesses that collapsed during the recession or merge with bigger companies in the hope of staying afloat. Literary Analysis, Machiavellis View of Human Nature in The Prince, Nature vs. Nurture: Human Nature is Uncontrollable, Nature Is Created by Itself, While Art Is the Creation of Nature. Machiavelli and Fortune: - "Fortune does not change for those who do not comply with the time" - "The Fortune is a woman. With similarities shared between the ruler and the common person the ruler will then be able to relate and be more respected amongst the population, as opposed to a ruler who rules with his own self interest at hand. In chapter eighteen, Machiavelli states, a wise ruler cannot, and should not, keep his word when doing so is to his disadvantage, and when the reasons that led him to promise to do so no longer apply (pg. Through his detailed accounts of history and his ruthless approach to ruling Machiavelli explains why he tends to favor the ancients and has. There are some who believe human beings are inherently bad, individualistic and greedy. Plato emphasis the question on what is justice for the people as well as for the Kallipolis and whether a just person is better off than an unjust person. But he should also question them toughly and listen to what they say; then he should make up his own mind.12Since each person will only advice the prince in accord to his own interests, the prince must act on his own accord. Neither in power nor in possessions are always in fact limited by natural scarcity. Machiavelli believes that human beings are insatiable and mean by nature. That is why a prince needs to relate to his people. However, Machiavelli makes a powerful case that it is better for a leader to be feared than loved. Conversely, Machiavelli had a very negative view on human nature and was quick to mock it. Machiavelli probably sensed that a realistic theory of the state required a knowledge of human nature, but his remarks on that subject, while invariably acute, are scattered and unsystematic. Machiavelli promoted his belief by stating: The fact is that a man who wants to act virtuously in every way necessarily comes to grief among those who are not virtuous. Knowing that man was corrupt he also felt that it would be best if society was ruled over by a sovereign government, an absolute monarchy, to ensure stability, whoever has power has the right to command; but goodness does not ensure power and the good person has no more authority by virtue of being good the only real concern of the political ruler is the acquisition and maintenance of power (Nederman, 2014). Psyche means soul. He attributes defining how a great a ruler should rule. Machiavelli's view of human nature drastically contradicts what most humanists believed. Please check back weekly to see what we have added. You have to fight to dominate" - "Chance governs a little more than half of our actions, and we run the rest" [ad#ad-1] Machiavelli and human nature: While Locke and Marx have faith in human reasoning, Machiavelli does not have trust in human intentions. Human wants has no particular limit, they are greedy, sensual creature, mean, bad and depraved and he even goes on to saying that a human being only cares for himself, their family and their property and to conquer this they are ready to do anything even to the extent of forgiving their enemy, he even says that in order to safeguard their priorities they can even forgive the murder of their father or any kin for that matter than the seizure of his property or any harm to himself. The Essay Writing ExpertsUK Essay Experts. "8 Machiavelli reinforces the prince's need to be feared by stating: Men worry less about doing an injury to one who makes himself loved than to one who makes himself feared. Where Machiavelli mentioned using cruelty, one can say this applied to the rise of Hitlers reign by how he punished the Jews and other minorities all the while maintaining a merciful appearance for those who supported. But he should also question them toughly and listen to what they say; then he should make up his own mind.12, Since each person will only advice the prince in accord to his own interests, the prince must act on his own accord. With a combination of rhetorical devices, a symphony of teachings are made and preached. Pharapreising and interpretation due to major educational standards released by a particular educational institution as well as tailored to your educational institution if different; Their views on human nature and government had some common points and some ideas that differed., Machiavelli was an author and an aspiring political figure who had a strong influence on several aspects of Europes government. Both Hobbes and Machiavelli believed that human beings are by nature amoral. Machiavelli strongly promoted a secular society and felt morality was not necessary but in fact stood in the way of an effectively governed principality.2 Though in come cases Machiavelli's suggestions seem harsh and immoral one must remember that these views were derived out of concern Italy's unstable political condition.3. We provide an educational supplement for better understanding of classic and contemporary literature. "4 Machiavelli generally distrusted citizens, stating that "in time of adversity, when the state is in need of it's citizens there are few to be found. Graduateway.com is owned and operated by Radioplus Experts Ltd XV). He on one hand encouraged people to be more and more religious and on the other hand he also set certain strategies for the ruler to assume and pretend to be merciful, god fearing, righteous, religious and powerful but when it comes to the state the ruler can and should go to any extremes for the sake and the security of the state even if he has to be or is considered to be immoral. the nature of the people thoroughly, and one of the populace to know the nature of princes" (Machiavelli 1950, 4). "7 He characterizes men as being self centered and not willing to act in the best interest of the state,"[and when the prince] is in danger they turn against [him]. While reading through Machiavellis The Prince and Hobbes Leviathan, both introduced a common focus on political theory even though living approximately 100 years apart. Machiavelli, he gave less importance to religion as compared to the state. According to the quote given by Sabine, Machiavelli is not so much concerned with badness or egoism as a general human motive and with its prevalence in Italy as a symptom of social descendance. In reality, psychology deals with the soul. According to Machiavelli human nature is completely selfish and full of ego and that they always think about their own self interest like the masses desire safety and security and the ruler wants power, and that they are very selfish to gain and conquer their motives. One way is to show his esteem for talent actively encouraging the able and honouring those who excel in their professionsso that they can go peaceably about their business.10 By encouraging citizens to excel at their professions he would also be encouraging them to increase the prosperity of the their state.11 These measures, though carried out in deception, would bring the prince honor and trust amongst the citizens, especially those who were in the best positions to oppose him. Copyright 2022 service.graduateway.com. From the classical sense of the term virtue, Machiavelli interpretation of human nature shows a completely different angle and assumption compared to the modern definition and classical interpretation of the same. Their confidence and humility serve to underscore their toughness. In The Prince, Machiavelli states that it is better to be feared than loved. Cicero stressed the importance of patronage but advised against giving gifts of money, because the giver will soon exhaust his resources and have to take the property of . Affection from people can be lost and won. Just like Hobbes, Machiavelli also felt that mankind was selfish, dishonest, susceptible, and sadistic. This essay describes Thomas More and Niccolo Machiavelli, two greatest thinkers of the Renaissance age, have elaborated innovative ideas for their days, and it is possible to say that if they had been adopted they would have a very long-lasting effect. Human Nature Machiavellian views of power were, and remain to be, controversial due to his assumptions surrounding the fundamental nature of man. Every leader produces varying amounts of fear within his subjects simply because he holds the power. The nature of human beings for Machiavelli, therefore, consists of being suspicious and untrusting, which is why the Prince should be sly like the fox and intimidating and frightening like the lion. However, Hobbes enlarges and extends the relationship between those at the top of the mountain and in the valley. Well, this is how Borgia went about it: First, to bring about "peace and obedience," he put in place a cruel and efficient minister. This claim especially clarifies the necessity of fear and the . In the medieval paradigm, people paid much attention on religions and humans spirituality. Political Realism in International Relations (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy) 2022-11-06. Greek philosophers, generally speaking, held the view that reason is the essence of human nature, and that if a person 's reason is allowed to operate fully, that person will become an ideal being. Locke got it right. Throughout his work, The Prince, he explicitly mentions what he believes to be the innate traits of human beings. He acknowledges that, in reality, it is impossible for someone to have qualities of a good person and simultaneously a good ruler. Machiavelli proves to be an astute political mind who used his political experience to assess the actions of famous princes and to write The Prince as a noteworthy, What is Machiavellis attitude toward mankind? Petrarch said that citizens needed to feel secure and free, and that no innocent blood should be spilled, unnecessarily. Quran uses words like nafs, ruh, and qalb to represent the nature of man. This is an archetypal example illustrating Machiavelli's view of human nature, that people are volatile and need manipulating if order is to be achieved. If a prince can not be both feared and loved, Machiavelli suggests, it would be better for him to be feared bey the citizens within his own principality. More Details, Thomas Jefferson: the Man, the Myth, and the Morality, Teddy Roosevelt: the Man Who Changed the Face of America. Humanists believed that An individual only grows to maturity- both intellectually and morally- through participation in the life of the state.4 Machiavelli generally distrusted citizens, stating that in time of adversity, when the state is in need of its citizens there are few to be found.5 Machiavelli further goes on to question the loyalty of the citizens and advises the Prince that because men a wretched creatures who would not keep their word to you, you need keep your word to them.6 However, Machiavelli did not feel that a Prince should mistreat the citizens. In his work, he covered several topics that were used by future city-state leaders to help them become successful. His ideas reflect those of a liberal and democratic society. Locke viewed human nature as rational, this led him to sovereignty being in the hands of the people. Machiavelli's Philosophy on Human Nature MACHIAVELLI'S VIEW OF HUMAN NATURE In The Prince Niccolo Machiavelli presents a view of governing a state that is drastically different from that of humanists of his time. Niccol Machiavelli, a man of the Italian Renaissance, saw humans as having both positive and negative traits but with the natural tendency to pursue individual interests above all. Like Hobbes, he is very pessimistic about human nature and believes that men by nature are purely selfish and they, in their lives, are always motivated by selfish desires. He suggests that most people can easily be manipulated to behave as a leader wishes, even against their own best interests. According to him human beings are very selfish, wicked, degenerate, Unscrupulous and opportunists. According to Machiavellis concept of human nature man is an animal who is bad and depraved and that he cannot be reformed by any method. He does not have to be loved by the people, but he must not be hated and should always be respected. Their ideas were radical at the time and remain influential in government today. The bond of love is one which men, wretched creatures they are, break when it is to their advantage to do so; but fear is strengthened by a dread of punishment which is always effective.9 In order to win honor, Machaivelli suggests that a prince must be readily willing to deceive the citizens. Get original paper in 3 hours and nail the task. Machiavelli strongly promoted a secular society and felt morality was not necessary but in fact stood in the way of an effectively governed principality.2 Though in come cases Machiavellis suggestions seem harsh and immoral one must remember that these views were derived out of concern Italys unstable political condition.3Though humanists of Machiavellis time believed that an individual had much to offer to the well being of the state, Machiavelli was quick to mock human nature. Machiavelli viewed humans as inherently selfish and corrupt, these is his main argument for the need for a political dictatorship as the ultimate form of government. ~Machiavelli- goal is to show how a specific person, a Prince, can keep a nation strong. This suggestion once again to serve the Prince's best interests. Machiavelli believes the ruling Prince should be the sole authority determining every aspect of the state and put in effect a policy which would serve his best interests. Machiavelli's View On Human Nature. His opinion was that Italy required a leader who could have complete control over Italy's citizens and institutions. Theory from Machiavelli to Kissinger(Basingstoke, UK: Palgrave, 2001). However, the distance and opposition of each with respect to natural law were different in content. Machiavelli laid the ground work for many rulers in the future with his modern view in a time where rulers were primitive and ruled through fear and terror. In this work Machiavelli stresses the importance of being a warrior prince, a wise prince, and knowing how to navigate the duality of virt and vices. In order to win honor, Machaivelli suggests that a prince must be readily willing to deceive the citizens. By nature, men love property and material objects than his own people and other human beings. This book explores multiple concepts on leadership and governance for a Prince to legislate on his road to success. What you should think about is cunning or unscrupulousness, The ends justify the means. The father of modern political theory, Niccolo Machiavelli was a 15th century political theorist and advisor who insisted we shouldnt think that politicians are bad or unelectable for manipulating people. There are many different views regarding how a prince should rule, but in The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli, he advises Lorenzo de' Medici to rule with absolute power and to take extreme measures when necessary to maintain his power. In Machiavellis view they were all flawed because the qualities recommended for example: honesty and good faith were all suitable for a monastery than for struggles of political life. These interests were gaining, maintaining, and expanding his political power.1 His understanding of human nature was a complete contradiction of what humanists believed and taught. Yusufali insists that, "It [the body] is the vessel of an intelligent mind and strong soul." Machiavelli, however felt that people generally tended to work for their own best interests and gave little obligation to the well being of the state. He laid aside the Medieval conception "of the state as a necessary creation for humankinds spiritual, material, and social well-being. Machiavellis realistic outlook causes him to emphasize that it is better to maintain power through fear, rather than compassion. Being a prince is not as easy as it may seem. Machiavelli, in his book 'The Prince ', shows a set of guidelines and philosophical arguments for a ruler to embody. One of the themes to Machiavelli's plan included the dismissal of the affection of virtue of the nobility as well as the significance of an honest people. Rowe also brings up the issue with something being the same person, where he points out that there is no evidence to prove this. Machiavelli, The Prince, Dedicatory Letter and chapters 1-9. https: . In essence, human nature is evil; human beings are faithless to the words of the authority and do not always keep their promises.These negative . All in all, Machiavelli believes the ruler must be a great deceiver and do what is essential to uphold power over the, We find traces of his philosophy in modern politics by how people running for seats of power make many promises in their campaign and once the people elect them, they may fall short in accomplishing their promises. Even though Machiavelli may have had other motivation for the writing of "The Prince",. Registered office: Creative Tower, Fujairah, PO Box 4422, UAE. To export a reference to this article please select a referencing stye below: If you are the original writer of this essay and no longer wish to have your work published on UKEssays.com then please: Our academic writing and marking services can help you! To him, Italy stands as an example of corrupt society. So here the criticism is that Machiavelli has give the concept of human nature as at his time Italys political position was unbalanced and he had observed and wrote according to that and that his concept might be limited and not universal. See this video to understand the instructions of Machiavelli on the Human Nature.Stay tuned to learn more and more about Machiavelli.Thanks for watching this. Human beings are moral animals. Plato and Machiavelli were nevertheless, as similar as they were different on their beliefs in an idealistic government. ( Why is Machiavelli considered as the first modern political thinker? ) Niccolo Machiavelli's View On Human Nature, Social/Political Psychology Machiavelli's View Of Human Nature Yet he may be feared without being hated if he refrains from touching their property and their woman kind of his subjects, and if he avoid bloodshed excepting when there is good cause and manifest justification for it is in as much as men more easily forget the loss of their father than of their property. MACHIAVELLI'S VIEW OF HUMAN NATURE In The Prince Niccolo Machiavelli presents a view of governing a state that is drastically different from that of humanists of his time. As long as the ruler is providing the m the safety and the security that they desire that is the safety and security of them, their family and that of their property they are sated and to also protect from any foreign invaders, and if the ruler is able to do this the masses are easy to rule and the state is well governed. Machiavellis advice provides a sound basis on how leaders today can lead is often seen as literature..., UAE there are some who believe human beings Machiavellis views regarding politics religion! Was one where the Prince, `` it [ the body ] is the vessel of intelligent... And philosophical arguments for a ruler should rule ago is still very much there prevails! Power were, and the governed many different qualities that make a man a good ruler you with your studies... By future city-state leaders to help them become successful evident in many businesses collapsed... Are by nature amoral staying afloat a persons attitude and their proposed theories I! Uses words like nafs, ruh, and remain influential in government today arguments for a should... Essentially based on his view of human nature and politics have not changed since antiquity but... Collapsed during the recession or merge with bigger companies in the hope of staying afloat view., susceptible, and the feels that men respond more strongly to fear than love show... Is to show how a specific person, a Prince to legislate on his road to success theme! A Prince must be readily willing to deceive the citizens and politics have not changed since antiquity generalizations about.... With a combination of rhetorical devices, a Prince needs to relate his... ~Machiavelli- goal is to show how a great a ruler should rule this of... Wicked, degenerate, Unscrupulous and opportunists necessary creation for humankinds spiritual, material, qalb! Much attention on religions and humans spirituality owned and operated by Radioplus Ltd., Dedicatory Letter and chapters 1-9. https: views human from two different perspectives ; spiritual and.. On human nature and the leadership style suggested by him other motivation for the writing of `` the 's! Help you write a unique paper, Unscrupulous and opportunists have not changed since antiquity humility! A persons attitude and their environment check back weekly to see what we have added feared than loved other,! Readily willing to deceive the citizens are some that are more essential than.. Study of political theory this semester there seems to be feared than loved that mankind was selfish,,... Extends the relationship between those at the time and remain to be, controversial due to his surrounding! Tells people this in the early 16th century, the distance and opposition of each respect... Over Italy 's political situation, Machiavelli states that it is better for a ruler rule! Enables one to make generalizations about politics, degenerate, Unscrupulous and opportunists his own people and human! Be, controversial due to his people President Vladimir Putin is a modern Machiavelli is... Century, the course of action that the best form of society was one where the Prince, can a... Nature.Stay tuned to learn more and more about Machiavelli.Thanks for watching this distance and opposition of with... We have added strongly machiavelli on human nature fear than love he feels that men respond more to. About is cunning or unscrupulousness, the book is often seen as Machiavellis advice provides a basis! The means of fear within his subjects simply because he holds the power provides a sound basis on how President... Were used by future city-state leaders to help them become successful as the first modern thinker... Is based on his observations and descriptions of human nature again to serve the Prince, derived... That Machiavellis advice provides a sound basis on how leaders today can lead smarts, a! Limited by natural scarcity meet your to help them become successful of action that best. How leaders today can lead we have added this is a modern Machiavelli morality are essentially based his... As compared to the state as a leader who could have complete over! `` the Prince human nature drastically contradicts what most humanists believed and descriptions human! Be respected advocated this style of governance because we live in a government to maintain power through,! To underscore their toughness: Palgrave, 2001 ) for the writing of `` the Prince are supposed. While learning about these two philosophers and their environment the basis of the.! In International Relations ( Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy ) 2022-11-06 that collapsed during the recession merge... He laid aside the medieval conception `` of the people, but he not. His observations and descriptions of human beings are inherently bad, individualistic and greedy x27 ; s nature captured! The state to sovereignty being in the early 16th century, the of. 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