Socrates Meets Machiavelli: The Father of Philosophy Cross-Examines the Author of The Prince

by Peter Kreeft

Publisher:

Ignatius

, 2003

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.

Key Features

• 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

Contents

• 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)

Product Details

• Title: Socrates Meets Machiavelli: The Father of Philosophy Cross-Examines the Author of the Prince
• Author: Peter Kreeft
• Series: Socrates Meets …
• Publisher: Ignatius
• Print Publication Date: 2003
• Logos Release Date: 2013
• Pages: 173
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subjects: Machiavelli, Niccolò, 1469-1527 › Principe; Machiavelli, Niccolò, 1469-1527 › Criticism and interpretation
• ISBNs: 9781681494401, 168149440X
• Resource ID: LLS:SCRTSMTSMCHVLL
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2024-03-25T20:50:46Z

About Peter Kreeft

Peter John Kreeft, Ph.D., (born 1937) is a professor of philosophy at Boston College and The King’s College, and author of numerous books as well as a popular writer on philosophy, Christian theology, and specifically Roman Catholic apologetics. He also formulated together with Ronald K. Tacelli, SJ, “Twenty Arguments for the Existence of God.”