Machiavelli Week 1 - Pre Reading: VIDEO. Flashcards
Special Lecture by Professor Quentin Skinner - ‘How Machiavellian was Machiavelli?’ at the University of York in 2013
What does M provide in his work
Practical advice on statecraft and urgent advice to new princes to appear as well established.
What do the examples he has given suggest?
They are all male - the vocal of the Prince is heavily male gendered.
Despite this what is the indispensable quality regardless of gender that all political leaders must possess in order to succeed?
Virtu - a concept echoed throughout the book - he uses the term in a variety of contexts.
What does Witfield suggest on his use of the worked
‘he uses the word without any consistency at all’
What does Skinner say in response to this in the lecture
it is used with consistency - as the name of s et of qualities that M makes many comments on.
How many ways does Skinner argue the word is used in
Four ways
what is the first way
Virtu as a means of which a political leader controls and offsets the power of fortura - luck
Expand on this
M argues that you cannot get rid of the power of luck - in chapter 24 he explains how leaders of Italy have lose their states and blame their ill lick but he says that this is wrong - with virtu you can control such ill fortune.
what is the second way skinner argues virtu is explained
to be a leader of virtu is to seize opportunities.
what are three leaders that he gives that have greatest virtu
Moses, Cyrus and Ermines.
for all of them he comments that without given that particular opportunity their virtu is unnecessary - no opportunity was wasted when they have it. grasped opportunities which allowed them to succeed.
what is the third way virtu is explained by Skinner
virtu as a qualities that helps you maintain your state.
give the quote for this
‘montanere lo stato’
what does it mean to maintain your state
maintain jurisdictions under your charge - institutions of the state - and in turn you will maintain your position.
what is the final way Skinner argues
the fundamental goal is glory - la gloria - virtu as a source of glory
