Machiavelli: Master Political Strategist (Machiavelli, Pt. 1)

Рет қаралды 1,393

Күн бұрын

New section of the lecture series, Foundations of Western Political Thought -- this time on Niccolò Machiavelli, writer on statecraft during the Italian Renaissance. Machiavelli is so famous (or notorious) that an entire approach toward politics is named after him: Machiavellian. His most famous work is The Prince, as well as his Discourses on Livy. A citizen of Florence, Machiavelli embodied a new era of secular humanism in his approach toward politics.
Timecodes:
0:00 - Intro
6:44 - Machiavellian Politics and Statecraft
16:14 - Italian Renaissance
23:26 - Discourses on Livy
36:54 - The Prince
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Dr. Jonathan Barth received his PhD in history from George Mason University in 2014. He specializes in the history of money and banking in the early modern period, with corollary interests in early modern politics, empire, culture, and ideas. Barth is Associate Professor of History at Arizona State University and Associate Director of the Center for American Institutions at Arizona State University.
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Пікірлер: 21

@ThePattersonPod Жыл бұрын

This came in handy for an assignment for my undergrad law course. The prompt: Should anyone be above the law? I have always heard people talk about "Machiavellianism," but I have never heard it explained. This gives me some context. Thank you. Also, love that I found a Reformed Baptist KZfaqr who is into history, economics, and theology. Right up my alley, though I have lots to learn!

@ProfessorBarth Жыл бұрын

Hey Lance: glad it was helpful, and glad you found my channel! Subscribe so you can see updates when we post new Reformed Devils podcasts, I think you'll enjoy them. Cheers.

@ThePattersonPod Жыл бұрын

@@ProfessorBarth Thanks for the reply. I’ve already got you on my subscriptions!

@andrewternet8370 Жыл бұрын

You should've touched on why historians have a tough time connecting Discourses on Livy and The Prince. When you made the counterargument that they were connected, the lack of the argument nagged at the back of my mind.

@ProfessorBarth Жыл бұрын

Well, I think many commentators have found it difficult to reconcile the two simply because the Discourses is such a resolute defense of republican government and citizen involvement in the affairs of state; republicanism emphasizes a rational form of government for the benefit of citizens, and it typically prizes liberty and opposes corruption. The Prince appears, on the surface, to take a darker view -- the people in The Prince resemble sheep waiting to be led by an amoral ruler concerned principally with maintaining power. But as I explained briefly in the intro, I think it's very possible to reconcile the two books. Machiavelli is writing for different audiences; The Prince was intended for rulers, and so it reads differently.

@WatchClock99 Жыл бұрын

appreciate your efforts

@ProfessorBarth Жыл бұрын

Thank you sir

@BiggoSuave Жыл бұрын

you're underrated, i've been recommending your channel to friends

@ProfessorBarth Жыл бұрын

Thank you sir, I appreciate it. Most of this material I already teach in my classes, so I figured I might as well throw it online for public consumption.

@johnparker8028 Жыл бұрын

This is great timing for me. I’m heading to Florence on the 26th. Also have a copy of the prince which I haven’t read yet because I’ve been buried in books on the federal reserve so I’ll definitely take it on the plane. Looking forward to your parts to come.

@ProfessorBarth Жыл бұрын

Awesome, have a good time! The closest I've gotten to Italy is Nice, on the southeast coast of France; I heard a lot of Italian speakers. Have a good time. Enjoy The Prince; as I said in the intro, if you want to get to the real scandalous material, skip to Chapter 15 and proceed onward.

@user-jp4nd5vo5f Жыл бұрын

Frederick The Great's "Anti-Machiavel" is a really interesting read. He loathes Machiavelli and calls him all sorts of names, some of which are pretty funny, as he critiques his assertions. Frederick, of course, had the luxury of being a member of the Hohenzollern dynasty which was firmly entrenched as monarchs of Brandenburg, whereas Machiavelli was writing for princes whose rule was more tenuous. Either way, its still worth reading as a counter point.

@ProfessorBarth Жыл бұрын

Yes, Frederick the Great had certain advantages; ironically, Machiavelli may actually have admired him as a ruler who built a solid reputation and understood the arts of war. I'll have to read the full text of Anti-Machiavel.

@dannym2595 Жыл бұрын

This is going to be a good course! Cant wait for p2. Macci was playing game theory since ages. The video reminded me of your class, very similar and well crafted. 👍

@ProfessorBarth Жыл бұрын

Machiavelli was definitely ahead of his time. Curious: what class did you take from me and how long ago? I've got several former students who keep up with the material on here. Thanks for watching.

@dannym2595 Жыл бұрын

@@ProfessorBarth ummm all I remember was HST 109 fall, 2018 or 2019. And you left early that semester bc your kids were born ! :D

@ProfessorBarth Жыл бұрын

@@dannym2595 Oh yea, haha. They turn four years old next month!

@andrewternet8370 Жыл бұрын

I think Machiavelli's right that collective intelligence is more powerful than individual intelligence (think of how mechanics, engineers, businessmen, and investors all work to make affordable cars). I think Cato's right in that the state should be wary of actions that alter the state (think of how he argued that Catelline should be hanged, for if left alive Rome could fall). In this case, I believe the state should pursue the good, though possibly abandoning this good when necessary to preserve the state (with the knowledge that the collective intellignce of the state can more properly serve the good than if the state were to collapse and solely individual intelligence could serve the good).

@andrewternet8370 Жыл бұрын

"What words spring up when you hear 'Machiavelli'?" Uhhh Machiavellian...