We propose a reading of the third book of Machiavelli’s Discourses on Livy as a place where the political and military practice of the ancient and modern world can be considered very similar. Since, in fact, in the third book the interventions of individuals in the history of Rome are examined, a type of action emerges – the individual one – which is generalised in the modern context. Consequently, it is shown that for Machiavelli the more action is forced to be individual because the individual is not bound to the community by a common “faith”, the less reliable predictions can be made. In short, religion as a strong social bond is the ground on which the future is “produced”. This raises the problem of the foundation of political action in the modern world, given the individualistic character of the Christian faith.
«Uno esemplo domestico e moderno»: Machiavelli, Firenze e l’idea di contemporaneità
Fabio Frosini
2020
Abstract
We propose a reading of the third book of Machiavelli’s Discourses on Livy as a place where the political and military practice of the ancient and modern world can be considered very similar. Since, in fact, in the third book the interventions of individuals in the history of Rome are examined, a type of action emerges – the individual one – which is generalised in the modern context. Consequently, it is shown that for Machiavelli the more action is forced to be individual because the individual is not bound to the community by a common “faith”, the less reliable predictions can be made. In short, religion as a strong social bond is the ground on which the future is “produced”. This raises the problem of the foundation of political action in the modern world, given the individualistic character of the Christian faith.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
