
Machiavelli's Romans
Liberty and Greatness in the Discourses on Livy
Patrick J. Coby(Author)
Lexington Books (Publisher)
Published on 13. May 1999
Book
Paperback/Softback
378 pages
978-0-7391-0070-7 (ISBN)
Description
Although Machiavelli is usually considered a pioneer among modern political philosophers, he read deeply in and was greatly influenced by the works of classical Roman thinkers such as Livy. There is thus a fundamental tension between the modern and the ancient within Machiavelli's philosophy; he is both a precursor to the Enlightenment and a throwback to republican Rome. This is the main thesis behind Patrick Coby's innovative study of the neglected Machiavellian classic Discourses on Livy. Coby argues that scholars have been too quick to dismiss the ancient antecedents of Machiavelli's thought, particularly with regard to the modes and orders of the Roman republic. The book seeks to resolve the central paradox of the Discourses, that Machiavelli recommends adoption of Roman modes and orders even though those modes and orders destroyed the virt?, the strength, which Machiavelli would have moderns resuscitate by imitating Rome. A sophisticated, highly engaging book, Machiavelli's Romans will be of special interest to political theorists, Renaissance scholars, and classicists.
Reviews / Votes
Coby's book provides a much-needed textual analysis of Machiavelli's Roman sources and displays a wide and masterful knowledge of the formidable body of scholarly literature. . . . The book undoubtedly represents the most thoroughgoing investigation of Machiavelli's interpretation of the Roman precedent. * Sixteenth Century Journal * Under Coby's able guidance the reader gets a grand tour of contemporary Machiavelli scholarship and interpretations. The discussion of liberty and greatness is especially stimulating. . . . All in all, the book makes the Discourses less mysterious, more intelligible, and more exciting than it is thought to be. * American Political Science Review *More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 22 mm
Weight
613 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-7391-0070-7 (9780739100707)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
05/1999
1st Edition
Lexington Books
€47.99
Available for download

E-Book
05/1999
1st Edition
Lexington Books
€47.99
Available for download
Person
J. Patrick Coby is Professor of Government at Smith College. He is the author of Socrates and the Sophistic Enlightenment: A Commentary on Plato's Protagoras and of numerous writings in political theory, including articles on Thucydides, Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Shakespeare, Hobbes, Locke, and Marx.
Content
Chapter 1 Introduction: Reading the Discourses
Part 2 Part One: Rome
Chapter 3 Why Rome?
Chapter 4 Rome's "Inside" Modes and Orders
Chapter 5 Rome's Humors
Chapter 6 Rome's "Outside" Modes and Orders
Chapter 7 Rome's Captains
Part 8 Part Two: Machiavelli
Chapter 9 Machiavelli's Modes and Orders
Chapter 10 Machiavelli's Middle Ways
Chapter 11 What Machiavelli's Wants
Chapter 12 Notes
Chapter 13 Bibliography
Chapter 14 Index
Part 2 Part One: Rome
Chapter 3 Why Rome?
Chapter 4 Rome's "Inside" Modes and Orders
Chapter 5 Rome's Humors
Chapter 6 Rome's "Outside" Modes and Orders
Chapter 7 Rome's Captains
Part 8 Part Two: Machiavelli
Chapter 9 Machiavelli's Modes and Orders
Chapter 10 Machiavelli's Middle Ways
Chapter 11 What Machiavelli's Wants
Chapter 12 Notes
Chapter 13 Bibliography
Chapter 14 Index