Machiavellian analysisBuddy Fletcher knew how to use his financial success and his philanthropy to gain respect and power. His high esteem combined with his ability to generate significant profits leads to blind deference. As Machiavelli wrote, “he who is highly esteemed is not easily the object of conspiracy”11 (Ch. 19). Early in his career, Fletcher embodied the spirit of a Machiavellian leader by wielding influence through his success. However, in Kant's mind, he seems to adhere to strong moral principles, such as not lying and using others as mere means to an end. However, as the details of his success are revealed, his moral character becomes increasingly questionable. First, he did not disclose the methods by which he made huge profits, and the stakeholders, with their singular desire for profit, did not care about the legitimacy of his design and did not ask questions. As Machiavelli writes: “It is not necessary that a prince should have all the good qualities…but it is very necessary that a prince should appear to have them”11 (Ch. 18). Fletcher seemed like an honest citizen. He donated to charity and was extremely intelligent and charming. Machiavelli also writes: “the means will always be considered honest… because the vulgar are always taken by what a thing seems to be and by what results from it”11 (Ch. 18). This shows Fletcher's ability to attract unwitting investors, like the "ordinary people" whom Machiavelli crudely called "the vulgar." Thanks to his charm and his exciting results, he convinced many people to invest in his fund. As long as it maintained the image and the promise of high returns, it did not matter how the goals were achieved. As we now know, it was all a fugazzi and his motives were selfish. He took money from middle of paper......Rep. New York: np, sd Print.7. "Ethics." Merriam Webster. Merriam-Webster, nd Web. April 16, 2014.8. Fletcher Foundation. Np, and Web. April 17, 2014.9. Harris, Phil. “Volume information.” Journal of Business Ethics 84.1 (2009): n. page. JSTOR. Internet. April 17, 2014.10. Healy, Beth. “MBTA pension fund and hedge funds sue Fletcher Asset Management and its owner for $50 million.” BostonGlobe.com. The Boston Globe, March 31, 2014. Web. April 17, 2014.11. Machiavelli, Niccolò and James B. Atkinson. The Prince. Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill, 1976. Print.12. Shafer-Landau, Russ. The fundamentals of ethics. New York: Oxford UP, 2010. Print.13. Leonard, Devin. “The SEC: Understaffed, Understaffed and Growing.” Bloomberg Business Week. Bloomberg, April 19, 2012. Web. April 17. 2014.