Discourses on Livy
by Niccolò Machiavelli, Harvey C. Mansfield, Nathan Tarcov, Alissa Ardito, Ninian Hill Thomson, and Henry Neville
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A very different work from his well-known The Prince, and posthumously published a year prior to it, Machiavelli’s Discourses on Livy is one of his most debated works. Some critics see it as presenting a counterpoint or refutation of The Prince, calling it a key founding document of modern liberal republicanism. Others maintain that it is complementary, arguing that leaders of republics must act in the manner Machiavelli prescribes in The Prince if they are to maintain their state’s freedom. In any case, it is a deep and complex work of political philosophy.
Both complementary and critical of contemporary Italian Renaissance politics, culture, and religion, Discourses on Livy uses Roman history, as described in the first ten books of Livy’s Ab urbe condita, to explain Machiavelli’s views across a broad range of subjects. The 142 discourses discuss political violence, military strategy, political corruption and reform, conspiracy, public opinion, the role of religion in public life, and much more.
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Subjects
Historiography, Early works to 1800, Political science, Political science, early works to 1800, Rome, historiography, Livy, Political science, philosophy, Politics and government, Political ethics, Early works to 1700, Livy. 00, Military art and science, Lectures and lecturing, HISTORY, Ancient, Ab urbe condita (Livy), Political science--early works to 1800, Jc143 .m163 1970, 320.9/37, Social sciences, Political science -- Early works to 1800, Livy. Ab urbe condita, Rome -- Historiography, Philosophy, Long Now Manual for CivilizationPeople
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Book Details
Edition Notes
This translation originally published: 1997.
Includes bibliographical references (p. [360]-414).
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