William B. Parsons

Machiavelli's Gospel (eBook, ePUB)

The Critique of Christianity in "The Prince"

• Format: ePub

Produktbeschreibung

A new reading of The Prince, arguing that the classic text is neither a scientific treatise on politics nor a patriotic tract but rather an artful, elaborated critique of the dominant religion of his time

The leading interpretations of The Prince focus on Machiavelli's historical context, but they give little attention to the source on which the moral and political thought of Machiavelli's sixteenth century was based, the Christian Bible. In this study of The Prince, William Parsons plumbs Machiavelli's allusions to the Bible, along with his statements on the Church, and shows that Machiavelli was a careful reader of the Bible and an astute observer of the Church. On this basis Parsons contends that Machiavelli's teaching in The Prince is instructively compared with that of the Church's teacher, Jesus Christ.

Parsons thus undertakes what recent interpreters of The Prince have not done: contrast Machiavelli's advice with the teaching of Christ. The result is a new reading of The Prince, revealing in Machiavelli's political thought a systematic critique of the NewTestament and its model for human life, Christ. In this commentary on one of the greatest works on politics ever written, Parsons not only challenges the most recent interpretations of The Prince but also sheds new light onthe classic interpretation that Machiavelli was a teacher of immorality.

William Parsons is associate professor of political science at Carroll College.

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Produktdetails

• Verlag: Boydell & Brewer Ltd
• Seitenzahl: 286
• Erscheinungstermin: 30. Mai 2016
• Englisch
• ISBN-13: 9781782047339
• Artikelnr.: 56407083

Autorenporträt

William B. Parsons

Inhaltsangabe

Introduction: Christianity, Christ, and Machiavelli's The Prince
Christianity's Siren Song Christ's Defective Political Foundations Hope Is
Not Enough The Prince of War Machiavelli's Unchristian Virtue Christ's
Ruinous Political Legacy The Harrowing Redemption of Italy Conclusion:
Machiavelli's Gospel Notes Works Cited Index