Socrates Meets Machiavelli: The Father of Philosophy Cross-Examines the Author of The Prince
Digital Verbum Edition
Overview
In this volume political theory’s foundational thinker has a conversation with the father of philosophy. Peter Kreeft’s reincarnation of the gadfly examines Machiavelli’s virtù, fortuna, and other concepts. The practical power player engages the classical seeker of the ideal in an approachable book on logic, ethics, and politics.
In the Logos edition, this volume is enhanced by amazing functionality. Important terms link to dictionaries, encyclopedias, and a wealth of other resources in your digital library. Perform powerful searches to find exactly what you’re looking for. Take the discussion with you using tablet and mobile apps. With Logos Bible Software, the most efficient and comprehensive research tools are in one place, so you get the most out of your study.
Save more when you purchase this book as part of the Peter Kreeft Bundle (27 vols.).
- Examines Machiavelli’s virtù, fortuna, and other concepts
- Presents a ficitional dialogue between Socrates and Machiavelli
- Provides an approachable book on logic, ethics, and politics
- The Characters
- The Contrast with Plato
- The First Priociple of The Prince
- The Test of Truth
- Machiavelli's Philosophy of Man
- The Existence of Te (Moral Authority)
- The Knowledge of Good and Evil
- The Power of Trust
- Arms and Laws
- Love and Fear
- Machiavelli’s Ethics
- Machiavelli’s Metaphysics
- Machiavelli’s Epistemology
- Machiavelli’s Logic
- Machiavelli’s Life
- The Formula for Success
Top Highlights
“success is the maximization of virtù and the minimization of fortuna. Failure is the opposite.” (Page 26)
“Virtù means prowess, ability, potency, power: all the powers by which a man may control history by controlling the lives and behavior of other men, whether by arms or by laws or by persuasion. And fortuna means all the forces that control human life that we ourselves cannot, in turn, control. In other words, chance or luck, whether good or bad.” (Page 25)
“I do not say that men are only good, but you say that men are only wicked. I take account of evil, but you do not take account of good.” (Page 64)
“That is true of material goods. They diminish when shared. But does wisdom, love, trust, affection, beauty, or knowledge diminish when shared? Does a teacher become ignorant when he shares his knowledge with his students?” (Page 119)
“a prince wins a dominion in one of two ways: either by virtù or by fortuna” (Page 24)
Peter Kreeft is a philosopher, theologian, and apologist. His concise, lucid, wit-infused prose draws frequent comparisons to that of C. S. Lewis. He has written dozens of books on understanding philosophy, defending the Christian faith, and encouraging Catholics on difficult doctrine. He is currently professor of philosophy at Boston College.