The issue of talent over training is discussed in detail in the fourth instalment of The Book of the Courtier by Baldassare Castiglione. The natural gift of leadership in a prince has to be moulded under the unflattering guidance of a wise courtier. Undoubtedly, a good prince is a man of special abilities, but he needs to be guided in the path of virtue by the prudent courtier. Therefore, the real test of courtiership lies in the ability to speak the truth; the prince should be wary of flatterers and liars because they do not point out his flaws, and keep his vision covered by the veil of ignorance. True knowledge is the main weapon of the honest courtier in his endeavour to help the prince in maintaining the high ethical standards of leadership. Even the ancient rulers had followed the example of noble courtiers to sharpen their leadership skills. Ignorance is equated with the inability to take the correct decision; the learned courtier should primarily act as an advisor to the prince, and help him in making the right choices. Good judgement is impossible without true knowledge, and the courtier, therefore, should be a man of wisdom; musical and dancing skills are secondary. The courtier should be able to fearlessly participate in decision-making, and oppose the prince whenever he strays from the correct path.
Justice, according to Signor Ottaviano, is the biggest responsibility of the prince. It would be necessary to choose men of “wisdom and probity”, who would act as counsellors. The chief advisor would help the prince in choosing the right men; it would form the “council of nobles”. The courtier would elucidate the true idea of justice from a Christian perspective; the issue is again centred on a moral code. In this aspect, the advisor acts as a moral preceptor, and philosophically explores the ethical implications of good judgement. The question of talent over training arises once again: the high moral standards are acknowledged universally, but they are accessible to only a few; the true leader achieves that state of perfection through proper guidance. Being a good prince means being a good governor; being a wise courtier is equated with being a learned philosopher. The prudent courtier combines the wisdom of the ancient philosophers with the theological precepts of Christianity. The political weapons of the prince are chiselled by moral virtues.
An important question arises in the discourse on ideal courtiership: is the advisor superior to the prince? If the courtier has to set a good example for the prince, is he not more capable than the prince himself? The courtier does not have the scope to attain that state of perfection, but he sincerely acknowledges the importance of the virtues. The protégé surpasses the capabilities of the mentor because of his natural talent as well as upbringing. Also, Castiliglione provides the example of the whetstone which sharpens metal, but does not cut anything itself. Castiglione is wary of concluding that the courtier is wiser than the prince; it clearly reflects his conservative political stance. The courtier contributes in the training of the prince, but he is not the sole contributor. The courtier’s virtues are for the guidance of the prince, and he trains himself to become the prince’s advisor. Emphasis is laid on the age of the courtier: he should be a man of experience. The courtier is superior to the prince only in terms of experience; in other aspects, the courtier maintains a humble distance from his master. Therefore, the courtier trains himself through learning and experience to play his role as an advisor. But the prince himself should be capable of learning from the noble courtier’s example; he should be “naturally inclined and suited to his role”. Thus, the prince needs to have the talent of becoming a good governor.
The virtues of an ideal courtier separate him from the rest; the issue of talent over training is resumed in the discussion of good courtiership. The ideal courtier is himself a man of talent; he sharpens his skills through learning and experience to serve the prince. Thus, the ideal courtier is born with natural abilities which differentiate him from other courtiers; he then assumes a bigger responsibility. Castiglione concedes the fact that the ideal courtier can no longer be treated as an ordinary court attendant; he elusively assumes a higher position through his talents. Becoming the prince’s advisor is the highest aim of the courtier, and that position can only be occupied by a man of natural abilities. Thus, the prince’s instructor should be praised as the perfect courtier.
The instructor, as mentioned earlier, should be an elderly man. The elderly courtier would consistently make choices based on reason, and would not be assailed by base emotions. Continence is an important virtue, and the advisor would refrain from taking immature decisions due to his age. Having control over his emotions is necessary for the advisor in making impartial choices, and a wise elderly man seldom relies on his emotions to deliver a judgement. The instructor is not a man of action, but of contemplation; the prince acts upon his advice, and the instructor does not engage himself directly in frivolous activities. Thus, the prince’s advisor leads a contemplative life. He has experience in various activities of the court, and has the necessary skills to perform them, but he does not get involved directly due to his age. The humble detachment of the advisor gives him a dignified stature. In fact, the chief advisor should not directly participate in activities of courtly entertainment like singing and dancing. Also, it would be inappropriate for an elderly man to engage himself ostentatiously in merry-making. Thus, the duties of the advisor should primarily involve guiding the prince in governance. The instructor should have the rhetorical skills to argue on political and philosophical issues because he has to convince the prince without being dogmatic. He sets an example of following a moderate path; blunt attacks on the ego will aggravate the situation. Therefore, the advisor should also be a good debater in order to persuade the prince.
Rajdeep Pal
PG 1, Roll 22
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