eBook - PDF

Amoral Politics

Name: Amoral Politics
ISBN: 9781438418865

The Persistent Truth of Machiavellism

Ben-Ami Scharfstein,

342 pages
English
PDF
Available on iOS & Android

eBook - PDF

Amoral Politics

The Persistent Truth of Machiavellism

Ben-Ami Scharfstein,

About this book

After exploring the theory and practice of politics in ancient China, ancient India, and modern Europe, Scharfstein argues that the justification for deception and force is inseparable from political life and assesses the chances for a better political future.

This is a study of how and why politics is amoral. It deals especially with what the author terms Machiavellism-the disregard of moral scruples for political ends that leads to the justification and use of deception and force in all aspects of political life. A comparative cultural study, it examines the theory and practice of politics in ancient China, ancient India, Renaissance Italy, and modern Europe, as well as tribal cultures, in order to test how widespread such political amorality has been throughout history.

Scharfstein concludes that political or ethical theories that do not view Machiavellism as inseparable from political life are inadequate to human affairs and of doubtful relevance to politics. In reaching this conclusion, he explores such topics as why people readily accept political violations of truthfulness and fairness; whether decisive philosophical arguments have been advanced against Machiavellism; whether the use of deception in politics is in politicians' own best interests; and whether the prevalence of Machiavellism rules out the likelihood of a better political future.

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Yes, you can access Amoral Politics by Ben-Ami Scharfstein in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in Filosofia & Storia e teoria della filosofia. We have over one million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.