内容简介
Throughouthistory,somebookshavechangedtheworld.Theyhavetransformedthewayweseeourselvesandeachother.Theyhaveinspireddebate,dissent,warandrevolution.Theyhaveenlightened,outraged,provokedandcomforted.Theyhaveenrichedlive
作者简介
NiccolòMachiavelli(bornMay3,1469,Florence-diedJune21,1527,Florence)Italianstatesman,historian,andpoliticaltheorist.HerosetopoweraftertheoverthrowofGirolamoSavonarola,wasappointedsecretaryandSecondChancellortotheFlorentineRepublicin1498.Workingasadiplomatfor14years,hecameincontactwiththemostpowerfulfiguresinEurope.HewasdismissedwhentheMedicifamilyreturnedtopowerin1512,andduringthenextyearhewasarrestedandtorturedforconspiracy.Thoughsoonreleased,hewasnotpermittedtoreturntopublicoffice.HisfamoustreatiseThePrince(1513,published1532)isahandbookforrulers;thoughdedicatedtoLorenzode'Medici,rulerofFlorencefrom1513,itfailedtowinMachiavellihisfavour.MachiavelliviewedThePrinceasanobjectivedescriptionofpoliticalreality.Becauseheviewedhumannatureasvenal,grasping,andthoroughlyself-serving,hesuggestedthatruthlesscunningisappropriatetotheconductofgovernment.Thoughadmiredforitsincisivebrilliance,thebookalsohasbeenwidelycondemnedascynicalandamoral,and“Machiavellian”hascometomeandeceitful,unscrupulous,andmanipulative.HisotherworksincludeasetofdiscoursesonLivy(completedc.1518),thecomedyTheMandrake(completedc.1518),TheArtofWar(published1521),andtheFlorentineHistories(completedc.1525).
