Machiavelli's New Modes and Orders: A Study of the Discourses on Livy - Softcover

Mansfield, Harvey C. C.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0226503704 ISBN 13: 9780226503707

Publisher: University of Chicago Press, 2001

Synopsis

Machiavelli's New Modes and Orders is the only full-length interpretive study on Machiavelli's controversial and ambiguous work, Discourses on Livy. These discourses, considered by some to be Machiavelli's most important work, are thoroughly explained in a chapter-by-chapter commentary by Harvey C. Mansfield, one of the world's foremost interpreters of this remarkable philosopher.

Mansfield's aim is to discern Machiavelli's intention in writing the book: he argues that Machiavelli wanted to introduce new modes and orders in political philosophy in order to make himself the founder of modern politics. Mansfield maintains that Machiavelli deliberately concealed part of his intentions so that only the most perceptive reader could see beneath the surface of the text and understand the whole of his book. Previously out of print, Mansfield's penetrating study brings to light the hidden thoughts lurking in the details of the Discourses on Livy to inform and challenge its readers at every step along the way.

About this title

About the Author

Harvey C. Mansfield is the William R. Kenan Jr. Professor of Government at Harvard University. He is the author of Machiavelli's Virtue and has translated The Prince, Discourses on Livy (with Nathan Tarcov), and Alexis de Tocqueville's Democracy in America (with Delba Winthrop), all published by the University of Chicago Press.

From the Back Cover

In the only full-length interpretive study of Machiavelli's Discourses on Livy, Harvey C. Mansfield provides a chapter-by-chapter commentary of this controversial and ambiguous work. Mansfield argues that Machiavelli's new modes and orders were intended to undermine the classical and Christian foundations of political philosophy and establish a new foundation not only for modern political philosophy, but for modern politics as well.

This penetrating study, wrought by one of Machiavelli's foremost interpreters, uncovers the hidden intricacies of the Discourses. It will inform and challenge its readers at every step.

From the Inside Flap

In the only full-length interpretive study of Machiavelli's Discourses on Livy, Harvey C. Mansfield provides a chapter-by-chapter commentary of this controversial and ambiguous work. Mansfield argues that Machiavelli's new modes and orders were intended to undermine the classical and Christian foundations of political philosophy and establish a new foundation not only for modern political philosophy, but for modern politics as well.

This penetrating study, wrought by one of Machiavelli's foremost interpreters, uncovers the hidden intricacies of the Discourses. It will inform and challenge its readers at every step.

Edition details

• Publisher: University of Chicago Press
• Publication date: 2001
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0226503704
• ISBN 13: 9780226503707
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 460