Machiavelli''s Prince - A New Reading

This book gives a radical, new, chapter-by-chapter reading of Machiavelli's The Prince, arguing that it is an ironic masterpiece with a moral purpose. It outlines Machiavelli's most important ironic techniques: a normatively coded use of language.

List of contents

• Introduction


• Ironic techniques


• Coded words


• Dedication: Princes and peoples


• States


• 1: Republics and principalities


• 2: Maintaining states


• 3: Empire


• 4: Absolute government


• 5: Free cities


• Modes


• 6: Virtú


• 7: Fortune


• 8: Crimes


• 9: Fortunate astuteness


• Foundations


• 10: Abundance and necessity


• 11: Popes


• 12: Arms and laws


• 13: Arms and virtú


• 14: Knowledge and discipline


• Virtues and vices


• 15: Praise and blame


• 16: Giving and spending


• 17: Fear and punishment


• 18: Deception and good faith


• 19: What princes should fear


• Prudence and trust


• 20: Trusting one's own subjects


• 21: Gaining trust from allies


• 22: Trustworthy ministers


• 23: Why princes need the truth


• Redemption


• 24: Stop blaming others


• 25: How to deal with fortune


• 26: Pick yourself up


• Conclusion

About the author

Erica Benner is Fellow in Ethics and Political philosophy at Yale University. She previously taught at Oxford University and the London School of Economics. She is the author of Really Existing Nationalisms (OUP 1995), Machiavelli's Ethics (PUP 2009), and many publications in the ethics of nationalism and self-determination.

Summary

This book gives a radical, new, chapter-by-chapter reading of Machiavelli's The Prince, arguing that it is an ironic masterpiece with a moral purpose. It outlines Machiavelli's most important ironic techniques: a normatively coded use of language.

Additional text

The depth in which she pursues her interpretation, through detailed analysis of chapter after chapter from The Prince, also sets this book apart from previous studies ... a useful and thought-provoking contribution to the ongoing scholarly debate about this famous and controversial work.

Product details

• Authors: Erica Benner, Erica (Fellow in Ethics and Political Phil Benner, Erica (Fellow in Ethics and Political Philosophy Benner, Benner Erica
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 28.11.2013
• EAN: 9780199653638
• ISBN: 978-0-19-965363-8
• No. of pages: 400
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History > General, dictionaries; Social sciences, law, business > Political science > Political science and political education; History of Ideas, History: theory & methods, PHILOSOPHY / Social, PHILOSOPHY / Political, POLITICAL SCIENCE / History & Theory, HISTORY / Social History, HISTORY / Study & Teaching, Social & political philosophy, Political science & theory, social and political philosophy, Political science and theory, History: theory and methods