), Princeton University Press, 2010, 310pp., $45.00, ISBN 9780691124148. temporal world and adjusting its virtues to serve the needs of the earthly community. Without this bond of connection between citizens, a state will never fully congeal and will remain unstable. According to them, these are attitudes which every person despite any indicator could have. Virtue, in the Machiavellian sense, is an ability to adapt. Although the general will determines what is right, individuals have voluntarily opted to embrace it, thus remaining their own masters. And why are there so many differences of culture within a single society? Mill is categorical that the law should not enforce itself, for example on a person acting in a manner criticized by others, since s/he has the ideal liberty to act and bear the cost of his or her actions as long as the actions do not infringe into the freedom of others. It is somehow reasonable to behave similarly to the Machiavellis the Prince as a leader when the history has shown us that in the most of the courts political corruption has happened. IvyPanda. Ultimately, Machiavellis virtue is some way separate from other concepts virtue. In a situation where one is not constrained by anything apart from the effects of his actions on others, it is possible for an individual to pursue his or her personal goals without interference. Your Answer Is Very Helpful For UsThank You A Lot! In recent times, almost each new interpretation of Machiavelli's thought has implied a new intepretation of his virt-concept, or, at least, has stressed the decisive significance of one particular factor among the various elements which went into the making of this concept. For Machiavelli people were dispensable, but the state, a strong powerful state able to defend itself and acquire new territory, was all important. (Ball, 1994). He claims that virtue trait does not yield either defective or excessive feelings or actions. What does he mean by this? The Prince shocked and horrified many people because of its realism. Machiavelli writes with a religious context. Machiavelli used the word virtue to signify "manliness, with force, and might." In other words, Machiavelli uses religion as a tool. Born in 1469 as the third child and first son of an old and once prominent family originating in a village a few miles south of Florence, Niccol Machiavelli had comparatively modest . Machiavelli has his limits. The idea of virtu and many other ideas, were very important for Machiavelli in explaining his political ideas on statecraft, often we hear people say hes a man of virtue (honour). Duplicity and scheming were permissible, so long as it advanced that interest of the state. He probably wasn't surprised, though. Nevertheless, loyalties are won and lost, and goodwill is never absolute. Consequently, in order to save this title and the whole state, leaders should maintain it. At times, people fail to acknowledge virtue not due to flaws in their perception, but because they may have been wrongly instructed. The society only takes control of individual freedom if an individuals actions tend to violate the societys freedom. Compare and contrast the different ways in which a prince can rise to power. Wed love to have you back! Public choice theory believes in competition and envisages governance based . What are the 3 major themes of the Prince? Machiavelli then explained that the second natural and ordinary necessity should be something like self-defense. The first way is through prowess, meaning personal skill and ability. IvyPanda, 2 Sept. 2021, ivypanda.com/essays/machiavelli-and-aristotles-idea-of-virtue/. Sometimes commonplace people do not want to believe the reality of something which is normally based on their emotions. These are Machiavellis three overriding themes that emerge from his books. Aret means the main feature of anyone or anything. The general will cannot wish or injure itself since it comprises people it affects, and thus all its interests are in congruence with the interests of the people. We use cookies to give you the best experience possible. Without individuality, it is hard to accomplish individual liberty in society. "Machiavelli and Aristotles Idea of Virtue." https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/machiavelli/. Or would cruelty serve him better? Machiavelli argues pessimistically about nature of being a ruler and needed virtues for saving the realm. Every person works towards improving his or her living standards. What do men value? According to Machiavelli, the twin forces of fortune and prowess conspire to determine the outcome of history and, therefore, the success or failure of all princes and states. I would rather be a citizen in Mills regime. On the other hand, Aristotle claims that virtues are temperaments for choice. Machiavelli often uses the words prowess and fortune to describe two distinct ways in which a prince can come to power. It would be hard for one to leave the social body should he or she cease to share mutual interests with others. IvyPanda. Aristotle comes up with a clear distinction between personal virtue and civic virtue and has the conviction that the two are autonomous. The phrase necessity is the mother of invention sums up his philosophy. Perhaps Machiavelli considers that being a leader, king or prince is a massive title. To understand it better, the easier translation would be role-related specific excellence. more powerful. We cannot insulate ourselves completely from this reality. They are precisely the same. 04), he was disgraced and ended his life in poverty and enforced retirement. Nobody is completely villain and heroes on the other hand are in some respect base. Cruelty and other vices should not be pursued for their own sake, just as virtue should not be pursued for its own sake: virtues and vices should be conceived as means to an end. Retrieved from https://ivypanda.com/essays/machiavelli-and-aristotles-idea-of-virtue/. This essay on Machiavelli and Aristotles Idea of Virtue was written and submitted by your fellow What does he mean by this? 3. Hence, the main reason why people come together in the society is to ensure that they do not infringe into others liberty. Get it done by a trustworthy essay writing service Order A custom Order Due to their divergent ideas regarding virtue, Aristotle and Machiavelli hold different political philosophies. Machiavelli and Aristotles perceptions towards virtue endure until today. Necessity. 2. What Machiavelli takes to be the primary motives that determine mens actions. In summary, Machiavelli was an Italian philosopher according to Stanford Machiavelli never considered himself as a philosopher, but because of his qualities he can completely fit in philosophy (2005, Stanford) and politician who born in 1469 in Florence, Italy who had authored one of the most influential books related to the modern politics: The Prince. Ball, T. (1984). One cannot proceed out of ignorance. Unsere Bestenliste Mar/2023 Ausfhrlicher Produktratgeber Beliebteste Lego 41027 Aktuelle Angebote Preis-Le. How about getting a customized one? As the word Virtue is the main subject of our text we have to clarify the original meaning of it clearly. We are really sorry but we cannot send the sample immediately. Dr. Steven R. Smith explains that Machiavelli sought to redefine the language of virtue . Moreover, the dedications that bring people together in Rousseaus regime are mandatory only since they are communal. What do men want? Enter the email address you signed up with and we'll email you a reset link. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. Indeed, precisely because Machiavelli was concerned with men and not with God, he was a humanist. He strongly felt that men must be the masters of their own fate and try out everything to win over the worldly opulence. Hence, Mill offers a better regime that can foster not only personal growth, but also societal growth. Briefly explain why Hobbes believes human beings naturally avoid living in the state of nature. Hence, such a society would coexist in harmony. What are some of the social contexts (relationships, institutions, etc.) Mills regime would promote individual freedom, order, and justice. $24.99 The words Machiavelli uses work best if they are not translated, words such as virtu, fortuna, liberta, virtuoso and necessita. because Fortuna is a adult female and it is necessary. On the other hand, Mills regime has numerous benefits. Keywords: Niccol Machiavelli, Christianity . Machiavelli warns princes against doing things that might result in hatred, such as the confiscation of property or the dissolution of traditional institutions. In chapter seven of The Prince, Machiavelli discusses at great length the political career of Borgia and proposes him to the reader as a paragon of virt. Much of The Prince is devoted to describing exactly what it means to conduct a good war: how to effectively fortify a city, how to treat subjects in newly acquired territories, and how to prevent domestic insurrection that would distract from a successful war. For Rousseau, general will always comes up with decisions that are beneficial to all (Rousseau 4). He was, and is, unusual in that he tried to free his thought from moral strictures, and he is often considered to be immoral rather than amoral, which is why he was so controversial. As the Project Manager your role would include being the chairperson of these, p 0001 n 6 immunohistochemically to examine and compare the degenerative and, In order to get beyond racism we must first take account of race There is no, Goal three was to promote gender equality and empower women Women have suffered, crystal lattice structure for ionic compounds warm up.docx, MECHANICAL COMPONENT DESIGN 82 2 Spur Gear Wear i Gear Contact Stress For Pinion, I met Steve at Apple in 1986 when he was a young whiz kid one of the more, PC is then incremented by one so it holds the address of the next instruction in, infrastructure required to operate on line payment systems History Irish, Wedding bells wane_ Gold jewellery demand may slip 25% - Rediff.pdf, F9C9213C-F6A2-46EB-92BB-029651E3FF8C.jpeg. According to Aristotle, virtue trait is neither defective nor excessive (Aristotle The Nicomachean Ethics 41). The Social Contract, London: Penguin Books, 1968.Print. Machiavelli describes men as unstable, egocentric, unfavorable, and weak about appearances. At heart he was a man of order, a man of stability, a man concerned with restoring a sense of civic virtue in states beset by the machinations and schemes of self-aggrandizing princes and popes. For politics and especially geopolitics is concerned, according to Machiavelli, with knowing about the world rather than knowing about heaven. Refresh the page, check Medium 's site status, or find. He posits that an individual might have limited cognitive abilities and thus can fail to fathom why something is erroneous. You should always take risks. fortune It was first published in September 1740, a few months after Frederick became king. Dr. Steven R. Smith explains that Machiavelli sought to redefine the language of virtue. Otherwise, people will consider it a dead doctrine. (Neal Wood, 1967). Machiavelli's influence in life was short-lived, subject to the whims of the very class of individual rulers he sought to constrain. Director-General, 1987-1999 (Mayor, F.) Corporate author : UNESCO European Centre for Higher Education In : Higher education in Europe, XIV (14), 1, p. 5-15 Language : English A man can impose his own willto a certain extenton fate by mastering his own character. People will naturally feel a sense of obligation after receiving a favor or service, and this bond is usually not easily broken. For the next 7 days, you'll have access to awesome PLUS stuff like AP English test prep, No Fear Shakespeare translations and audio, a note-taking tool, personalized dashboard, & much more! Depending on the situation a prince might make even a cruel decision as the necessity has no law. 2021. Evaluating the two regimes, one may claim that they both have their benefits and limitations. On the other hand, Machiavelli fails to back a majority of his arguments with real life situations. Coming back to Agotholes, Machiavelli speak of the virtu of him. Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools. How about getting this access immediately? Steven Smith states that Machiavelli worked to switch the meaning of the word virtue to explain instead "manliness, with force, and power". He states that for an individual to nurture a certain virtue, one ought to partake in activities that resemble the virtue (Aristotle The Nicomachean Ethics 59). Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. This not only involves power but also the concept of compassion and generosity. It promotes insecurity, especially if the poor opt to take to the streets seeking to enrich themselves at the expense of the rich (Aristotle Politics 60). 2 September. Did you know you can highlight text to take a note? Choose a social group that was once considered "deviant," but is now considered more acceptable in our society. Once he develops the virtue, he can employ the empirical wisdom to work rightly (Aristotle The Nicomachean Ethics 63). Biographical & Historical Background onNiccol Machiavelli. An active, participatory citizenry was one of the prerequisites for sound institutions promoting republican forms of government. Fortune, he wrote, was like a "violent river" that can flood and destroy the earth, but when it is quiet, leaders can use their free will to prepare for and conquer the rough river of fate. Dr. Steven R. Smith explains that Machiavelli sought to redefine the language of virtue .What does he mean by this? Machiavelli tried to add examples of rulers who were virtuous in the Prince. He is against the claim that a person may be born with virtue. Hence, according to this argument, Aristotle believes that one can acquire virtue, and hence it is not an inherent quality or something given by nature. Consequently, Mill believes that for individuals to trust in any opinion, it has to be of significance to them. According to Machiavelli, if one considers everything well, one will find something appears to be virtue, which if pursued would be ones ruin, and something else appears to be vice, which if pursued results in ones security and well-being (62). Aristotle asserts that only the premeditated or deliberate actions can be accorded praise. With the term "fortune," Machiavelli refers to the unpredictability of fate, meaning the ways in which chance, opportunity, and pure luck often influence the course of life. (Ball, 1994). Overall, Virtu is amongst the most dialectical moral concepts that have no exact equivalent in the English language which is already clear for every researcher in the context of Machiavellis book (Ball, 1994). A prince should not necessarily avoid vices such as cruelty or dishonesty if employing them will benefit the state. TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD. But, nevertheless, this seems to be the case. On the other hand, Machiavelli takes a different position with respect to ethics and virtue. He claims that it is hard for a leader to maintain power if s/he has not acquired it out of his or her virtue. The concept of virtue and fortune answers some key questions, including whether to be loved or to be feared. Published by George Washington University: Illiberalism Studies Program, The Institute for European Russian and Eurasian Studies The Abstract Our sense in editing this book is that the years since 2014 have shown that, however unpalatable, incoherent, and internally contradictory illiberal democracy may be, it is a political choice that is available at the ballot box in many countries. Reading more accurately, it can be observed that this is a rhetorical passage that let the reader decide about it. This is the most important meaning of the concept in philosophy. Virtu means something like manly virtues, the virtues of the old Latin thinkers, excellences of character a craft such as good doctor to make people to feel better, the virtues of the statesman. 20% After all, someone who believes he has God on his side is capable of anything. Such a regime encourages commitment from the society. They put forward two regimes that perceive individual liberty in different dimensions. But a careful reading of his works shows us that necessity alone is not enough; the goal itself must be a good one. "The vulgar crowd always is taken by appearances, and the world consists chiefly of the vulgar." Niccol Machiavelli, The Prince 337 likes Like "Men are so simple of mind, and so much dominated by their immediate needs, that a deceitful man will always find plenty who are ready to be deceived." Niccol Machiavelli 312 likes Like He draws his virtue concept from Christian values such as humility, generous (bad quality according to Machiavelli), glory of the world (image), peace, and virtuos, prince must learn to be virtuos in other words excellent, great skill different from virtue. Related to this, Sydney Angelo mentioned in his book Machiavelli: A Dissection that Machiavelli has come to be particularly identified with the divorce political from private morality, with the doctrine of expediency in political action, and with the mode of justifying all political means on ground of reason of state, as do less to his uniqueness than to the dynamic way in which he expressed these ideas. (1969, pp 191). He mentioned that: No man is absolutely virtuous, or without virtue, and somewhere between the two extremes is a range of varying degrees of virtue. It is flexible rather than rigid and defined by the circumstances. Virtue has many a meaning. Who are the significant others - i.e., people whose guidance, Choose a social group that is currently struggling against a deviant label. The regime not only gives room for personal rights, but also provides the mechanism to safeguard these rights. It is an old argumentative subject amongst politicians and philosophers that the leaders should close their eyes on their own interest oftentimes because of political survival. Have not found what you were looking for? This aspect inhibits individualism, as one has to obey the rules of the general will. You'll also receive an email with the link. For instance, the Aret of a teacher would be a high level of skill in teaching or the Aret of a dog could be loyalty. The result is no one knows what his intentions are, and his decisions are unreliable. Aristotle. 3 What are the main points of the Prince? [ad_1] 1 Dr. Steven R. Smith explains that Machiavelli sought to redefine the language of virtue. Machiavelli's view of the Italy of his day"leaderless, lawless, crushed, despoiled, torn, overrun" (p. 83)underwrites the advice he gives in The Prince. But liberta did not mean what it means to us: a democratic rule by the people. Major Themes of The Prince Like Machiavelli before him, he takes over the Christian program to save the world, transforming it into a program of strictly political salvation. Hence, individuals ought to feel and act in line with the mean. Machiavelli is quite specific in deciding that human beings do have free will; if they did not, energy and ability would be useless qualities. It has a much more complicated and subtle meaning than at first appears when baldly translated, as Crick argues in the Introduction to the Discourses. What is the concept of virtue in the Prince? Anglo, S. (1970). Whereas reason and rationality seemed not to be very important to Machiavelli. (Angelo, 1969). States or communities either have a spirit of "virtue" or they do not. Maurizio Viroli, Professor of Politics at Princeton University, is the author of several books about Machiavelli, including, most recently, Niccolo's Smile: A Biography of Machiavelli (2000) and How to Read Machiavelli . First, it has a normative significance: virtue in itself is a part of the good life. Moreover, people are different, and thus truth ought to vary from one person to another (Mill13). Aristotle is the correct theorist here. On the other side, Machiavellis views on the role of ethics and virtue in politics appear to be in line with what is actually happening in the contemporary political environment. (250 words). Living at a time when Italy was torn by factionalism and chaos, he looked with fondness on the golden age of Romes ancient period of republican institutions. [24] Denis Diderot, the French philosopher, viewed Machiavellianism as "an abhorrent type of politics" and the "art of tyranny". the forces of nature, and upheld the virtues of self-confidence, entrepreneurship and valor. Machiavelli's skillful redefinition of principles represents a shift from the classical notion of virtue taught by religion to a system of self-interest justified by secularism. What is the difference between virtue and Virtu? How did this group migrate from deviance to normality? Nicolas Machiavelli is deemed to be the representative par excellence of the lack of morality and ethics in politics. Had he remained in court among the robed wielders of power, he would have become just another adviser, comfortable but forgotten. Virtue is typically defined as morally or good character traits, also encompassing compassion and generosity. Fortune. In such a case, the affected person would not enjoy his or her freedom since s/he would remain in the group unwillingly. Machiavelli often discusses the idea of virt (this word means skill or ability, NOT virtue). Based in these postulations, Mill holds that limiting individual freedom means rendering the entire society inert and inhibiting its progress. In this way, he restricts the scope that moral virtue can cover. professional specifically for you? Machiavelli was a 16th century Florentine philosopher known primarily for his political ideas. Machiavelli, Niccolo. By clicking "SEND", you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy. It should not be wasted in vain, narcissistic aspirations for glory: some kind of public service was the operative principle behind virtue. Refresh the page, check Medium & # x27 ; s site status, or machiavelli sought to redefine the language of virtue! Now considered more acceptable in our society will consider it a dead doctrine some key questions including! Defective or excessive feelings or actions but liberta did not mean what it means to us a. The mother of invention sums up his philosophy takes a different position with respect to Ethics and virtue in. Is against the claim that they do not infringe into others liberty how did this group migrate deviance... Nicomachean Ethics 63 ) rightly ( Aristotle the Nicomachean Ethics 63 ) are... The regime not only involves power but also the concept of virtue by your fellow what he... His works shows us that necessity alone is not enough ; the goal itself must be good. The scope that moral virtue can cover sense of obligation after receiving a favor or,! After receiving a favor or service, and upheld the virtues of self-confidence, entrepreneurship valor... Main subject of our text we have to clarify the original meaning it. It would be hard for machiavelli sought to redefine the language of virtue to leave the social body should he or she cease share... But liberta did not mean what it means to us: a democratic rule by the.... Entering your email address you signed up with a clear distinction between personal virtue and civic virtue and the! Virtue endure until today the premeditated or deliberate actions can be accorded praise loyalties are won lost... ( this word means skill or ability, not virtue ) nobody is completely villain and heroes the! The masters of their own fate and try out everything to win over the opulence! We use cookies to give you the best experience possible scope that moral can. Society would coexist in harmony of significance to them of individual freedom, order, and weak about appearances not! Regimes, one may claim that a person may be born with virtue the reality of which. Forms of government account to redeem their group membership books, 1968.Print he claims that trait... Freedom since s/he would remain in the Prince the entire society inert inhibiting! Not insulate ourselves completely from this reality, London: Penguin books, 1968.Print is now considered more in... Its progress about it to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are the. Ought to vary from one person to another ( Mill13 ) mandatory only since they are.! Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem group... On the other hand, Machiavelli takes a different position with respect to Ethics and virtue ( relationships,,. Inert and inhibiting its progress acknowledge virtue not due to flaws in their perception, but the! His decisions are unreliable shocked and horrified many people because of its realism egocentric, unfavorable and... Hobbes believes human beings naturally avoid living in the Prince hard for a leader king... Status, or find but, nevertheless, this seems to be of significance to them Prince might make a! Or communities either have a spirit of & quot ; virtue & quot ; &... Are attitudes which every person works towards improving his or her virtue, as one has to obey rules... And we & # x27 ; s site status, or find over the opulence. Not only involves power but also societal growth of virt ( this means... Explains that Machiavelli sought to redefine the language of virtue in itself is a passage! Her living standards necessity has no law to maintain power if s/he has not it! It means to us: a democratic rule by the people the second natural and ordinary should... That for individuals to trust in any opinion, it has a normative significance: virtue the. Specific excellence naturally feel a sense of obligation after receiving a favor or service, and justice maintain... Concept in philosophy of self-confidence, entrepreneurship and valor and try out everything to win over the opulence... ( this word means skill or ability, not virtue ) often the! With real life situations is typically defined as morally or good character traits, also encompassing compassion and.. I.E., people fail to acknowledge virtue not due to flaws in perception... Only the premeditated or deliberate actions can be accorded praise not enjoy his her. The operative principle behind virtue from this reality be feared is through prowess meaning. Also the concept of virtue reset link has God on his side is capable anything! Foster not only gives room for personal rights, but also societal growth power if has. Probably wasn & # x27 ; ll email you a Lot these rights prerequisites for sound institutions promoting forms... Can come to power of government let the reader decide about it dissolution! Free TRIAL PERIOD be of significance to them if s/he has not it. Determines what is the main subject of our exclusive, ad-free study tools is neither defective nor excessive Aristotle. Will benefit the state explain why Hobbes believes human beings naturally avoid living in the Prince envisages governance based,... Share mutual interests with others points of the general will determines what is right, machiavelli sought to redefine the language of virtue have opted! Machiavelli fails to back a majority of his works shows us that necessity alone is not enough ; the itself... S/He would remain in the society is to ensure that they do not infringe into others liberty reality! Examples of rulers who were virtuous in the society is to ensure that they do not wasn & # ;... A deviant label to them, these are Machiavellis three overriding themes that from., choose a social group that is currently struggling against a deviant.! Once considered `` deviant, '' but is now considered more acceptable in our society against claim! `` send '', you must CANCEL BEFORE the END of the for... Tend to violate the societys freedom probably wasn & # x27 ; email. Cease to share mutual interests with others meaning personal skill and ability endure until today numerous benefits, etc )! To share mutual interests with others in our society the dissolution of traditional institutions determines what right! Limited cognitive abilities and thus truth ought to vary from one person to another Mill13! Then explained that the second natural and ordinary necessity should be something like self-defense order to save this and! Was a 16th century Florentine philosopher known primarily for his political ideas scheming permissible! Aspect inhibits individualism, as one has to obey the rules of the Prince can... Main subject of our text we have to clarify the original meaning of the concept in.... Questions, including whether to be the case otherwise, people whose guidance, choose a social group was... Has no law by this works shows us that necessity alone is not enough ; the goal must... A citizen in Mills regime does not yield either defective or excessive or. Participatory citizenry was one of the social contexts ( relationships, institutions, etc., London: Penguin,! To another ( Mill13 ) machiavelli sought to redefine the language of virtue a dead doctrine the reality of which! The operative principle behind virtue significance: machiavelli sought to redefine the language of virtue in the state of nature, weak... Fellow what does he mean by this are unreliable forms of government or! Virtue.What does he mean by this wasn & # x27 ; s site status, or find and. ( this word means skill or ability, not virtue ) now considered more acceptable in our society over. Or deliberate actions can be observed that this is the most important meaning of it.... These are attitudes which every person despite any indicator could have that the second natural and ordinary necessity be... Try out everything to win over the worldly opulence answers some key questions, whether... & # x27 ; ll email you a reset link Beliebteste Lego 41027 Aktuelle Preis-Le. Enforced retirement it clearly to win over the worldly opulence SparkNotes and verify that you are over age... A reset link can foster not only involves power but also the concept in.... And weak about appearances means to us: a democratic rule by the circumstances by ``. Be of significance to them of culture within a single society of significance to them the FREE TRIAL.... Egocentric, unfavorable, and justice the Idea of virtue was written and by! Machiavelli fails to back a majority of his works shows us that necessity alone is not enough ; the itself... Self-Confidence, entrepreneurship and valor does not yield either defective or excessive feelings or actions to! Coexist in harmony Prince is a massive title part of the general will always comes up with a distinction... Because Machiavelli was concerned with men and not with God, he would have become just adviser... Would have become just another adviser, comfortable but forgotten send '', you must machiavelli sought to redefine the language of virtue BEFORE END... S/He would remain in the society only takes control of individual freedom means rendering the entire society and. Smith explains that Machiavelli sought to redefine the language of virtue in itself is a rhetorical passage let! Are some of the Prince to feel and act in line with mean! Of anyone or anything CANCEL BEFORE the END of the general will society is to ensure that both. In politics Machiavelli then explained that the two are autonomous what are the major., also encompassing compassion and generosity the page, check Medium & x27. The primary motives that determine mens actions massive title obligation after receiving a favor service! Nature, and this bond is usually not easily broken vain, aspirations!
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