Commentary

[in chronological order]

Machiavelli’s Common Good

- Mark Blitz, "Machiavelli's Common Good," Library of Law and Liberty, August 14, 2017.
Machiavelli’s Politics is aptly named. Catherine Zuckert’s new book concentrates intently on Niccolo Machiavelli’s judgment about how best to govern political communities in the ordinary sense—places such as Florence and Rome. Her views about what… More

Machiavelli’s Enterprise by Harvey Mansfield

- Harvey C. Mansfield, 'Machiavelli's Enterprise,' The New Criterion, October, 2013.
Excerpt: To create the modern world Machiavelli initiated a two-fold transformation of politics and philosophy that would bring them together: politics with the elevation of philosophy and philosophy brought down to earth. These two motions come together in… More

Machiavelli and Us

- Louis Althusser. Machiavelli and Us. Translated by Gregory Elliott. 2nd ed. London: Verso, 2011.

Major Works

The Prince

- Recommended Translation: The Prince, trans. Harvey C. Mansfield Jr. (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1998, 2nd ed.) Originally published in 1532.

Discourses on Livy

- Recommended Translation: Discourses on Livy, trans. Harvey C. Mansfield, Jr. and Nathan Tarcov. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1996. Originally published in 1531.

Florentine Histories

- Recommended Translation: Florentine Histories, trans. Laura F. Banfield and Harvey C. Mansfield Jr. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1988. Originally published in 1532.

Art of War

- Translated by Christopher Lynch. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2003.

Multimedia

Machiavelli’s Effectual Truth

- Harvey Mansfield, "Machiavelli as the Founder of Modernity," Conversations with Bill Kristol, October 21, 2021.
How was Machiavelli the founder of modernity, both philosophically and politically? Harvey Mansfield discusses in this Conversation.

Harvey Mansfield on Niccolò Machiavelli and the Origins of Modernity

- Conversations with Bill Kristol, Dec. 2015.
Harvard Professor Harvey Mansfield explains why we should consider Machiavelli not only the founder of modern politics but also a founder of modern science and economics. What was the character of Machiavelli’s critique of Christian morality? Why did he… More

Machiavelli’s Verità Effetuale

- Harvey Mansfield, "Machiavelli’s Verità Effetuale," University of Dallas, February 7, 2014.
Harvey Mansfield of Harvard University discusses Machiavelli’s notion of the “Effectual truth.”

Is Machiavelli a Moralist or a Realist?

- "Is Machiavelli a Moralist or a Realist?" Program on Constitutional Government Panel: Erica Benner (Yale); Michelle Clarke (Dartmouth); Clifford Orwin (Toronto). Harvard University, Cambridge, MA September 20, 2013.
In September, 2013, the Program on Constitutional Government at Harvard University sponsored a conference on Machiavelli–timed to coincide with the 500th anniversary of Machiavelli’s Prince. There were four panels in total. Panel 4 features Erica… More

How does Machiavelli Regard Religion?

- "How does Machiavelli Regard Religion?" Program on Constitutional Government Panel: William Connell (Seton Hall); William Kristol (The Weekly Standard); Vickie Sullivan (Tufts); Nathan Tarcov (Chicago) Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, September 20, 2013.
In September, 2013, the Program on Constitutional Government at Harvard University sponsored a conference on Machiavelli–timed to coincide with the 500th anniversary of Machiavelli’s Prince. There were four panels in total. Panel 3 features… More

Is Machiavelli a Civic Humanist or figure of the Renaissance?

- "Is Machiavelli a Civic Humanist or figure of the Renaissance?" Program on Constitutional Government Panel: James Hankins (Harvard); John McCormick (Chicago); Eric Nelson (Harvard); Paul Rahe (Hillsdale). Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, September 20, 2013.
In September, 2013, the Program on Constitutional Government at Harvard University sponsored a conference on Machiavelli–timed to coincide with the 500th anniversary of Machiavelli’s Prince. There were four panels in total. Panel 2 features James… More

Is Machiavelli a Philosopher?

- "Is Machiavelli a Philosopher?" Program on Constitutional Government Panel, Ioannis Evrigenis (Tufts); Christopher Lynch (Carthage); Harvey Mansfield (Harvard); Waller Newell (Carleton)   Harvard University, Cambridge, MA,  September 19, 2013.
In September, 2013, the Program on Constitutional Government at Harvard University sponsored a conference on Machiavelli–timed to coincide with the 500th anniversary of Machiavelli’s Prince. There were four panels in total.  Panel 1 features… More

Machiavelli: The Prince of Paradox

- CBC Radio 1. "Ideas" with Paul Kennedy. "Machiavelli: The Prince of Paradox" Nov. 5, 2013.
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation CBC “Ideas” radio program on Machiavelli featuring Harvey C. Mansfield, Clifford Orwin, Michelle Clarke, and Erica Brenner. Comedian Rick Mercer stars as Machiavelli.

Other Works

The Comedies of Machiavelli

- Recommended Translation: The Comedies of Machiavelli, trans. David Sices and James B. Atkinson. Indianapolis: Hackett, 2007. Collection originally published 1985 by the University Press of New England.

The Chief Works, and Others

- Recommended Translation: The Chief Works and Others, trans. Allan H. Gilbert. Durham, N.C.: Duke University Press, 1965 (3 vols.)

Mandragola

- Recommended Translation: Mandragola, trans. Mera J. Flaumenhaft. Long Grove, IL: Waveland, 1981. Originally published in 1524.