MEDIEVAL POLITICAL THOUGHT: Background to Machiavelli
Christian view of the state as fallen:
Augustine, City of God: Rome as ”city of man,” doomed to collapse
Medieval: descending theory of monarchical power
God as ultimate source of ruler’s authority
Dante, On Monarchy: on imperial authority
Scholasticism:
1260 recovery of Aristotle’s Politics: translated from Arabic to Latin
idea of state as natural, not fallen; man as “political animal”
Thomas Aquinas: 1270's: state exists before the fall, therefore natural
Genre of advice to Princes: speculum principis: = “mirror for princes”
prince must have Christian virtues
also humanist versions of this genre
MACHIAVELLI: New vision of politics
Realism: based on political experience of French invasions
centrality of force and violence
Rules of “political necessity”: the prince must study
"the way things are, not the way things should be "
Variables: fortuna vs virtù (ability, manliness)
Conclusions: stability of state as central goal
autonomy of politics: religion not relevant
morality: what makes an action good (in political sense)?