Auteur: Fott, David
Titre: How Machiavellian Is Cicero?
Revue/Collection: in : The Arts of Rule: Essays in Honor of Harvey C. Mansfield, ed. Sharon R. Krause and Mary Ann McGrail, (Lanham, MD : Lexington Books
Annèe edition: 2009
Pages: 149-165
Mots-clès: Héritage - Fortuna - Legacy, Philosophie - Filosofia - Philosophy
Description: [Abstract] Machiavelli’s criticism of ancient philosophers in chapter 15 of The Prince appears to include Cicero’s description of the Roman republic, but Cicero’s On the Republic depicts the actual Roman republic, not an idealized one. Machiavelli’s desire to find “the effectual truth” resembles Cicero’s criticism of ineffectual philosophers in his trilogy on rhetoric. But an examination of Tusculan Disputations reveals that Cicero’s link between philosophy and rhetoric may have been an exoteric teaching. Machiavelli teaches a prince to pursue his advantage when that conflicts with what is honorable. Cicero suggests that honor and advantage always coincide with his frequent praise of Stoic views. But a close reading of On the Laws shows that he has his doubts about the account of the law of nature that he gives there. Main works of Cicero mentioned: De or., Rep., Leg., Tusc., Fin., Off.
Oeuvres:
Sigle auteur: Fott 2009
Titre: How Machiavellian Is Cicero?
Revue/Collection: in : The Arts of Rule: Essays in Honor of Harvey C. Mansfield, ed. Sharon R. Krause and Mary Ann McGrail, (Lanham, MD : Lexington Books
Annèe edition: 2009
Pages: 149-165
Mots-clès: Héritage - Fortuna - Legacy, Philosophie - Filosofia - Philosophy
Description: [Abstract] Machiavelli’s criticism of ancient philosophers in chapter 15 of The Prince appears to include Cicero’s description of the Roman republic, but Cicero’s On the Republic depicts the actual Roman republic, not an idealized one. Machiavelli’s desire to find “the effectual truth” resembles Cicero’s criticism of ineffectual philosophers in his trilogy on rhetoric. But an examination of Tusculan Disputations reveals that Cicero’s link between philosophy and rhetoric may have been an exoteric teaching. Machiavelli teaches a prince to pursue his advantage when that conflicts with what is honorable. Cicero suggests that honor and advantage always coincide with his frequent praise of Stoic views. But a close reading of On the Laws shows that he has his doubts about the account of the law of nature that he gives there. Main works of Cicero mentioned: De or., Rep., Leg., Tusc., Fin., Off.
Oeuvres:
Sigle auteur: Fott 2009
