Machiavelli: a very short introduction

by Skinner, Quentin

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Title Statements

Full title :Machiavelli : a very short introduction / Quentin Skinner.

Summary

"Niccolò Machiavelli taught that political leaders must be prepared to do evil so that good may come of it, and his name has been a byword ever since for duplicity and immorality. Is his sinister reputation deserved? In answering this question Quentin Skinner traces the course of Machiavelli's adult life, from his time as Second Chancellor of the Florentine republic, during which he met with kings, the pope, and the Holy Roman Emperor; to the fall of the republic in 1512; to his death in 1527. It was after the fall of the Republic that Machiavelli composed his main political works: The Prince, the Discourses, and The History of Florence. In this second edition of his Very Short Introduction Skinner includes new material on The Prince, showing how Machiavelli developed his neo-classical political theory, through engaging in continual dialogue with the ancient Roman moralists and historians, especially Cicero and Livy. The aim of political leaders, Machiavelli argues, should be to act virtuously so far as possible, but to stand ready 'to be not good' when this course of action is dictated by necessity. Exploring the pivotal concept of princely virtue to be found in classical and Renaissance humanist texts, Skinner brings new light to Machiavelli's philosophy of a willingness to do whatever may be necessary -- whether moral or otherwise -- to maintain a position of power."--

Edition Statements

Publication Date:©2019
Edition:Second edition

Publication Statements

Publisher(s):Oxford University Press
Place of Publication:Oxford
Language:eng
Publication Date:©2019

Notes

"First published 1981 as an Oxford University Press paperback -- Reissued 1996 -- First published as a Very Short Introduction 2000."--Verso de la page de titre.

The Physical Object

Description:xvii, 120 pages : : illustrations ; : 18 cm.

Edition Identifiers

ISBN:9780198837572, 0198837577
oclc:on1154685573
LC Classification:JC143.M4
Dewey Decimal:320.1/092

Introduction -- The diplomat -- The adviser to princes -- The theorist of liberty -- The historian of Florence.

Subjects

Biographies Biography Italy Machiavelli, Niccolò Political science Political science -- Italy Political scientists Political scientists -- Biography Politologues -- Biographies Science politique -- Italie