Machiavelli (1469-1527) is the seminal figure in early modern intellectual history for those living, or wishing to live, in a functional democracy. What Machiavelli is primarily about, and what makes him indispensable to those of us living in and struggling to preserve democracy in America, is the sum of individual and collective qualities required of a citizen, or what he termed virtu: a host of traits ranging from manliness to boldness, ingenuity, excellence, self-esteem, and even stoic resignation. In a narrative spanning Machiavelli's life and work as one of the world's most fascinating philosophers, Bernard illuminates for the modern reader just how relevant his insights are to our own evolving debate on the appropriate relations between religion and politics, church and state.
Besides offering a detailed sketch of Machiavelli as a chancellor in the Italian Soderini Republic (1498-1512), this book examines the man's political philosophy, particularly his complex view of republics and principalities, in The Prince, the Discourses, and the Florentine Histories. It also establishes the importance of Machiavelli's writing as it evolved during his exile, especially in the reflexive passages of his plays Mandragola and Clizia. The book concludes with the potential uses of Machiavellism in 21st-century mass democracies, as well as presenting ways in which his legacy lives on in our own activities as citizens in a democracy.
- 174 pages
- English
- PDF
- Available on iOS & Android
eBook - PDF
Table of contents
- Contents
- Preface
- Chapter 1 Introduction: Machiavelli in His Time
- Chapter 2 The Secretary
- Chapter 3 Machiavelli as Political Philosopher
- Chapter 4 Machiavelli and Republican Virtue
- Chapter 5 Machiavelli and the Realm of Fortune
- Chapter 6 Machiavelli the Writer
- Conclusion: Why Machiavelli Matters
- Appendix: Machiavelli's Civic Tracts
- Notes
- Bibliography
- Index
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Yes, you can access Why Machiavelli Matters by John Bernard in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in History & European Medieval History. We have over 1.5 million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.