How Machiavellian was Machiavelli? Public lecture by Quentin Skinner

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  • Опубліковано 17 гру 2024

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  • @kit888
    @kit888 2 роки тому +51

    00:01 Introduction to Machiavelli
    03:25 The Prince
    Practical advice about statecraft, to new princes
    05:25 Virtu
    Indispensable set of qualities to succeed
    Principle task of understanding The Prince is to understand Virtu
    1. Power to offset Fortuna (luck)
    2. Power to get lucky (Fortuna is not providence), ability to seize opportunities
    3. Enables you to maintain your state, standing, as a ruler
    4. Maintain the jurisdictions and institutions of the state
    15:50 Hiero of Syracuse
    16:40 Avoid being hated and despised
    Ok to be feared
    18:15 Getting power
    Many ways
    Only one way to maintain power - Virtu
    19:05 Goal should be glory
    Do great things
    21:30 Other books on advice to princes
    Justice is essential
    Cicero - faith, keep your word
    Seneca - liberality/generosity, clemency (going beyond being just)
    Three princely virtues - justice, generosity, clemency
    26:50 Chapter 15
    Machiavelli disagrees, departs massively from conventional advice
    Follow the three princely virtues only as long as they help you maintain your state (consequentialism)
    Princely judgement (Virtu) is judging when that is right
    32:00 Chapter 18 How far should you keep your promises?
    Keep your word only if it helps you maintain your state
    This is confirmed by experience e.g. Pope Alexander VI
    So that people don't care, be brilliant at dissembling, like a fox
    35:05 Summary
    Be good if possible, be evil when necessary
    That's a virtuous prince
    But this is a crude analysis
    36:10 However, that is only true for justice
    Not for liberality or clemency - How Machiavellian was Machiavelli?
    If they ruin you, how can they be virtuous?
    38:10 Thucydides
    Corcya civil war
    The first casualty is moral language
    Evil acts excused as virtues, good actions denigrated
    41:00 Aristotle, Art of Rhetoric
    Manipulate moral language to excuse vices (rhetoric)
    Quintilian - paradiastole (re-describing vices by using neighboring virtues)
    Interpretation #2 Thucydides - the rhetorical trick is *pointing out* the re-description of vices as virtues
    Rutilius Lupus, Rhetorical ad Herennium
    47:00 Chapter 16 Concerning Liberality
    What passes for the virtue of liberality (generosity) is the vice of extravagance
    Liberality can cause you to raise taxes ==> hatred ==> lose state
    Therefore being miserly is not a vice
    48:00 Chapter 17 Concerning Cruelty and Clemency
    What passes for the virtue of clemency is the vice of over indulgence
    Scipio was lax
    50:25 Louis XII
    Parsimonious, therefore could fight wars without raising taxes, therefore generous
    51:10 Cesare Borgia
    Cruel at the outset, but brought peace and prosperity, therefore merciful
    51:45 Summary
    Political virtue - will it help you maintain your state?
    Justice - often needs to be avoided
    True liberality always works
    True clemency always works

  • @imago9059
    @imago9059 7 місяців тому +10

    Machiavelli was a genius when it came to uncovering and explaining the complexity of human behavior and how that applies especially in politics. People often forget to put him in the context of his time and have a broader picture of things. They would appreciate his writings more.

  • @DryNox
    @DryNox 5 років тому +64

    12:30 ‘Moses cheated because God told him what to do, so that doesn’t really count’ I find this statement quite hilarious

  • @Dancing77Kat
    @Dancing77Kat 3 роки тому +6

    Brilliant lecture. I especially loved you touching upon disguising vices and when is virtue a vice. Thank you.

  • @adtiamzon3663
    @adtiamzon3663 2 роки тому +13

    Professor Skinner, I admire your interpretation of Machiavelli's writing. Excellent! 👏👏❤

    • @joslynaarons6885
      @joslynaarons6885 Рік тому

      Professor thank you for your magnificent interpretation of Machiavelli’s greatest work, Il Principe. Of all the multiple interpretations I have listened to, about 20, yours tops it all. Grazie mille Professore 🙏

  • @rishabhkumar4328
    @rishabhkumar4328 4 роки тому +29

    This is the finest commentary on Machiavelli I have seen or read.

  • @enasshehadeh1
    @enasshehadeh1 2 роки тому +26

    I’ll quote this to be the most true short describing sentence for the “prince “ book and among the many unjust and cruel explanations for machiavelli’s great mental faculties
    “The prince must be someone willing to do evil that good shall come of it “
    Thank you for the good lecture .

  • @coffeefrog
    @coffeefrog 9 років тому +50

    This is a captivating and rich lecture on another incredible mind! Thanks very much to Prof. Skinner!

  • @mykindgeeman
    @mykindgeeman 11 років тому +14

    Thoroughly absorbing- an amazing lecture and lecturer

  • @SuperBennyboy12345
    @SuperBennyboy12345 11 років тому +12

    The first thoroughly enjoyable and absorbing lecture i have ever seen on the subject of Machiavelli

  • @julesjgreig
    @julesjgreig 3 роки тому +4

    Best talk I’ve heard on Machiavelli, thank you very much.

  • @renatosassone-corsi1042
    @renatosassone-corsi1042 Рік тому

    Excellent, wonderful speaker..!

  • @calvinginya718
    @calvinginya718 6 років тому +5

    I play this every night b4 going to bed sad I wish I could find more like this

    • @ripred42
      @ripred42 5 років тому +1

      Here's some similar videos I have found ua-cam.com/play/PLY9znvXifSMwsjZXYLa_rRF5wtbw62YC6.html

  • @jamesbaseman7297
    @jamesbaseman7297 8 років тому +23

    Im a big Machiavelli fan and i would like to thank you for this most interesting lecture prof. Skinner

  • @humbertogonzalezespinoza7806
    @humbertogonzalezespinoza7806 3 роки тому +4

    Notable clase del profesor Skinneer acerca de cómo se maneja realmente el poder desde siempre y hasta hoy y en el futuro......

  • @MichelMawon4982
    @MichelMawon4982 4 роки тому +15

    About 40 minutes in, I think he aptly describes a lot if what's going in today's society regarding the seizing of moral language to advance partisan ideals and redescribing vices as their closely related virtues.

    • @Hsaelt
      @Hsaelt 3 роки тому

      Woah, well said. Didn't expect from a black woman, no offence.

    • @Hsaelt
      @Hsaelt 2 роки тому

      @Revisionist what

    • @Hsaelt
      @Hsaelt 2 роки тому

      @Revisionist why u mock me so 🥺🥺🥺

    • @Hsaelt
      @Hsaelt 2 роки тому +2

      @Revisionist was it really racist tho? Have you seen a typical black american female political take comment?
      Anyhow sure: Spiker-Man, a friendly neighborhood racist.

    • @Hsaelt
      @Hsaelt 2 роки тому

      @Revisionist you're welcome, friend.

  • @rafabetlejewski6722
    @rafabetlejewski6722 4 роки тому +3

    Wonderful lecture and fantasticly delivered

  • @yassinjouihri1578
    @yassinjouihri1578 5 років тому +20

    In italian, the word "stato" can mean also a state of something, for example a mental state or an emotional state.

    • @epic6434
      @epic6434 3 місяці тому

      The emotional state of involvement is for love of course being faithful to country or class to race and maybe extreme to do so without mental capacity to be virtuous I think but it may lean to thick on one side or the other becoming distant from the balance.

  • @pascaltremblay6752
    @pascaltremblay6752 10 років тому +8

    Great lecture!

  • @swar3194
    @swar3194 9 місяців тому +1

    love from persia andfire the sound guy

  • @Marjorie-yt7pb
    @Marjorie-yt7pb Рік тому

    Great illuminating Lecture☺️👍

  • @gustavonevescoelho5826
    @gustavonevescoelho5826 3 роки тому +1

    Excellent lecture! Thanks!

  • @maxrappricciardi8218
    @maxrappricciardi8218 3 роки тому +2

    Great lecture. 👏👏👏👏

  • @amitojha9
    @amitojha9 3 роки тому

    Thank you Professor! A lot.

  • @eduardoc_costa
    @eduardoc_costa 3 роки тому +1

    Excellent lecture.

  • @breezebugatti6942
    @breezebugatti6942 8 років тому +3

    Thank you kindly Sir!

  • @artemisios
    @artemisios 7 років тому +7

    Per par condicio lo dico in italiano. Il termine "virtù" aveva, ai tempi di Machiavelli, e anche adesso, il significato di "forza", in particolare, di una forza che agisce e crea delle conseguenze. In italiano parliamo tuttora di virtù di una legge, di un ragionamento, o di un farmaco.

  • @sunofsotep8265
    @sunofsotep8265 3 роки тому +1

    My gosh That was utterly brilliant! Piercingly insightful, and absolutely fascinating.

  • @AmNotHere911
    @AmNotHere911 10 років тому +20

    Correct me if I'm wrong but the professor's citation of Thucydides description of the perversion of moral language is uncanny in its similarities between Orwell's description of double think.

    • @taranmurray7046
      @taranmurray7046 5 років тому +3

      I think you are on the right track here as well.

  • @shakespearaamina9117
    @shakespearaamina9117 7 років тому +6

    one of the amazing professors to learn from! Thank you sir indeed

  • @EvieMatavelli
    @EvieMatavelli 4 роки тому +11

    The analysis of chapter XV should be its own a TED talk. As a descendant of the man, this is a great class.

  • @nelsongonzalez4533
    @nelsongonzalez4533 4 роки тому

    Nice ☺️ and clear lecture 👍 on the Prince by Machiavelli.

  • @chiefprimo5827
    @chiefprimo5827 6 років тому +2

    Thanks for this youtube post

  • @oedrogonzalez7056
    @oedrogonzalez7056 4 роки тому +1

    Great video

  • @RozenKnight1990
    @RozenKnight1990 11 років тому +4

    Wonderful lecture. Thank you

  • @michaelemorrison
    @michaelemorrison 8 років тому +4

    very good lecture.

  • @nelsongonzalez4533
    @nelsongonzalez4533 4 роки тому +1

    A good leader should show leadership by force if necessary and by deeds instead of words, however, a charismatic leader with a strong character and personality could take him very far. Virtud means his attributes and his skills. Thank you very much.

    • @epic6434
      @epic6434 3 місяці тому

      I think being a leader is allowing or denying chain of commands individually if needing authorization from the top being informed of operations but having explanation for the potential back lash which falls on their watch so he'd obviously need experienced advisors present incase the current position has a good vision for the importance to execute will need communication skills no doubt but not unless they have been denied for reputation that type of character is subject to question so why should we be well regulated? For competence sake

  • @helenemasour9256
    @helenemasour9256 4 роки тому

    fantastic lecture

  • @yassinjouihri1578
    @yassinjouihri1578 5 років тому +2

    There are some mistakes in subtitles, one of them is when he uses latin words but are targeted as italian word

  • @jscott1622
    @jscott1622 2 роки тому +1

    That point about Clemency and Liberality was extremely interesting and something I missed in my reading of The Prince

    • @epic6434
      @epic6434 3 місяці тому

      I haven't read it just taking the opionated version of the speaker could be wrong but he's giving the lecture not Niccolo it's probably a test but we can only take what is given being that the Prince is a state of mind and thought subject to interpretation.

  • @nomos6508
    @nomos6508 5 років тому +3

    there is quentin tarantino... and quentin skinnner

  • @leonardodavid2842
    @leonardodavid2842 2 роки тому +5

    Just a note, by empeor Antoninus, Machiavelli means Caracalla.
    Today we distinguish between Antoninus Pius, Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, and Caesar Marcus Aurelius Severus Antoninus Pius Augustus (Caracalla), as Antoninus (because he was the first emperor with such a surname), Marcus Aurelius (cutting it short to avoid confusion) and Caracalla (a nickname), since he had stolen the name in order to associate himself to previous greater emeperors.
    This is the same thing we do today for Caligula. Ancient historians called him Divus Gaius to distinguish him, bur his real name was Gaius Julius Caesar Germanicus (which however was also the name of many other prominant Roman figures including emperors).
    Bad emperors in general today are just called by nicknames. Great emeperors always keep their favorite name (usually… Augustus is agustus, despite the fact that all emperors were called Augustus).
    However during the renaissance Caracalla was still called by his prefered name (his fake surname) of Antoninus. The real antoninus was called Antoninus Pius.
    For example, the baths of Caracalla in the Noli map of Rome are called antoninian baths. As opposed to the baths of Caracalla as we call them today.

  • @hawk0485
    @hawk0485 8 років тому +6

    Consequentialism, when applied to the shortest period of time becomes opportunism and when applied to eternity becomes idealism. To what temporal horizon does Machiavelli bind his judgement of virtue?

    • @ofamily8180
      @ofamily8180 5 років тому

      Good question? 🤔

    • @fukpoeslaw3613
      @fukpoeslaw3613 3 роки тому

      max one lifespan
      ofcourse

    • @rumpelstiltskin8841
      @rumpelstiltskin8841 3 роки тому

      Nice interpretation of consequentialism (not really)

    • @hawk0485
      @hawk0485 3 роки тому

      @@rumpelstiltskin8841 I'm just playing with the idea, no need to be sarcastic and mean :)

  • @OhGeeWillickersMister
    @OhGeeWillickersMister 2 місяці тому +2

    I just read this book and even with what is a less precise translation, it is amazing how people take things out of context. He was not telling people to be unscrupulous or unethical, to step on everyone to reach your goals and to not care about other people as long as you get what you want, but to be wise. In the classroom, you had better believe that strict teachers get better results that nice ones that students know won't hold them to consequences. Yet just as he says in the book, too much strictness without regard to their well being will make you hated. And yes, sometimes bad things are done in the name of keeping order and maintaining that well being, like could be argued about the atom bomb during WWII. It was dropped by Truman, but it was first funded by Roosevelt. FDR had the wisdom to know how to be loved, he originated so many programs to lift up the American people, yet he also was wise enough to know such a weapon might be necessary. That's what Machevelli was talking about. I think the concept has been perverted in modern society a la greed is good, but Machiavelli says greed is bad and does not advocate squeezing pennies out of people just because you can. I could go on and on. I look forward to reading Quentin's books, thank you for this informative video.

  • @pauline6322
    @pauline6322 5 років тому +1

    Insightful lecture! Thank you so much for this! :)

  • @bryfromportal
    @bryfromportal 10 років тому +65

    This is exactly what Machiavelli would have wanted us to believe

    • @Mike-hu6ch
      @Mike-hu6ch 10 років тому +10

      So deep. Humans are ridiculous man.

    • @user-hu3iy9gz5j
      @user-hu3iy9gz5j Рік тому +8

      In reality, Machiavelli was the first anti-machiavellian

    • @MartinDrummond-x6q
      @MartinDrummond-x6q Рік тому +5

      Machiavelli would not be remotely concerned with what we might believe.

    • @jalgaonmh1931
      @jalgaonmh1931 8 місяців тому

      What do you means. .. what he want to believe..i don't understand that..?

    • @LuLu-tg1ok
      @LuLu-tg1ok 2 місяці тому

      💥

  • @sofiahathaway8024
    @sofiahathaway8024 3 роки тому

    have anyone of you read the book 'Quest for Freedom. An Interview with Quentin Skinner'? I'd really recommend it.

  • @husnibadi834
    @husnibadi834 4 роки тому +1

    Thank you

  • @Limitless_P
    @Limitless_P 7 місяців тому

    Where can I physically attend lectures like these?

  • @Rico-Suave_
    @Rico-Suave_ Рік тому

    Watched all of it 53:46

  • @ahsanmohammed1
    @ahsanmohammed1 3 роки тому

    Thank you.

  • @rakitipakiti
    @rakitipakiti 8 років тому +12

    What a fucking boss!! I loved this lecture!

  • @onagoity
    @onagoity 9 років тому

    very good one

  • @emilioperez6435
    @emilioperez6435 5 років тому +1

    I wonder how high machiavelli would of scored on Robert Hare's psychopathic test.

  • @user-hu3iy9gz5j
    @user-hu3iy9gz5j Рік тому

    Now we're asking the real questions

  • @NeilFLiversidge
    @NeilFLiversidge 3 роки тому

    I can't find that justice quote attributed to Saki. Are you sure he said it?

    • @theocave7108
      @theocave7108 3 роки тому +2

      He's referring to Sacchi (humanist writer)

  • @3dferr
    @3dferr 11 років тому +2

    a good explanation about the concept of virtù.

  • @darkrebel123
    @darkrebel123 Рік тому

    ugh I cant hear him. the volume is too low even with all my volume settings maxed out

  • @jekareloaded9343
    @jekareloaded9343 3 роки тому

    What's wrong with the sound

  • @BossChronicles
    @BossChronicles 9 років тому

    What should i major in and what career should i pursue to be like him

    • @BossChronicles
      @BossChronicles 8 років тому

      +Sven Meier stfu

    • @marietoft1876
      @marietoft1876 7 років тому

      Philosophy and history of philosophy of course :-) unless you mean machiaveli in which case diplomat and writer who reads philosophy

  • @mellownuance
    @mellownuance 5 років тому +5

    17:34, lets see if trump retains in the following term

  • @nicolemusic2242
    @nicolemusic2242 24 дні тому

    44:54 - POINTING out abuout realism etc

  • @triumphbobberbiker
    @triumphbobberbiker 2 роки тому

    Grandioso

  • @watchit387
    @watchit387 4 роки тому

    In these 50 minutes, I was taken 100 meters below my intellectual depth

  • @ninirema4532
    @ninirema4532 2 роки тому

    super

  • @Coyote_Trickster
    @Coyote_Trickster 3 роки тому +1

    14:32

  • @hanzketchup859
    @hanzketchup859 2 роки тому +1

    Glory is greater than oneself , to be a glorious figure , according to Machiavelli was to restore Rome , how is that a personal credit ? Obviously no man is an island , Machiavelli was a masterful recruiter who valued the Republic , Glory is shared and lasting if the Republic is maintained .

  • @frederickmorris2216
    @frederickmorris2216 Рік тому

    He forgot one of his own rules as an adviser to power ...do not offer advice unless asked for it from the ruler..the reason being that a ruler must never see you as smarter or a threat to him/her..

    • @OhGeeWillickersMister
      @OhGeeWillickersMister 2 місяці тому

      Maybe that's why he waited until years after his died (in his bed of natural causes) to publish it...

  • @littlegreenguy4130
    @littlegreenguy4130 4 роки тому

    19:30

  • @TheLastOilMan
    @TheLastOilMan 9 років тому +2

    how can someone be so naive to say these issues doesn't hold now , because we are in a "Democracy " ....weird , ! Where has he been..oh yes academia !

  • @Soloohara
    @Soloohara 2 роки тому

    his italian accent was on point

  • @Sunscreen1973
    @Sunscreen1973 9 років тому +1

    Increasingly topical. All we need now is reality.. oh hang on..

  • @APerez89
    @APerez89 Рік тому

    Lmao "severus" as his bame implies 🔥🔥🔥😂😂😂😂

  • @diegoibanez2962
    @diegoibanez2962 2 роки тому

    After the watching the whole speech I liked the last part when talks about vices and virtue... i dont like their first part definition of virtue with their examples, also how described clemency, and justice

  • @spotify80
    @spotify80 Рік тому

    The Art of Politics?

  • @RogueGaming94
    @RogueGaming94 2 роки тому

    would he consider duterte a machiavellian?

    • @RogueGaming94
      @RogueGaming94 2 роки тому

      by virtue, liberality and clemency.

  • @villiestephanov984
    @villiestephanov984 6 років тому

    The word is strongly rooted in Amalekite' s
    " overture ". Its literal meaning : " Be Instructed, O Jerusalem !"
    ( Prof. Chomsky would have said it , probably 100 times an hour that, that is which makes "the Prince of the selfish gin ")

  • @mohamedmansor61
    @mohamedmansor61 11 років тому +1

    Virtue

  • @legaliseuprebuggiun
    @legaliseuprebuggiun 3 роки тому

    A lightweight beginner by today standard

  • @Freezencrash
    @Freezencrash 9 років тому

    Luck?

  • @cliflottjr4435
    @cliflottjr4435 7 років тому +2

    I've only listened to 16 minutes of this lecture and have found much from this professor to disagree with.
    However, I'm all for Nicollo M. being a topic of discussion though...

    • @bangersinlondon2231
      @bangersinlondon2231 7 років тому +1

      You should go to a public lecture and ask a question...very easy to do.
      Bet you don't but...

    • @AngelMartinez-lu3ls
      @AngelMartinez-lu3ls 3 роки тому

      @@bangersinlondon2231 In this day n age the tediousness of monotony of researching & referencing is no longer in the equation. Now you just ask Google n vola! You have the answer to your question(s)...

  • @bryanfurigay7044
    @bryanfurigay7044 2 роки тому +1

    whos here because of BBM? lol

  • @papageno1849
    @papageno1849 3 роки тому +2

    Ok, both "Romagna" and "Romania" are nice countries... but not they aren't the same thing 😏

  • @品味历史品味人生
    @品味历史品味人生 4 роки тому +2

    Machiavelli cleared the bush, Thomas Hobbs built the building.

  • @chasemorello60
    @chasemorello60 2 місяці тому

    🦾

  • @jeannenicolas1723
    @jeannenicolas1723 6 років тому +1

    He wrote The Prince in order to preserve his life. He could have been afraid of The Mdecis.

    • @joeturc1
      @joeturc1 4 роки тому

      Fear is the most effective motivator 🤔puts his commentary in perspective

  • @jensibowable
    @jensibowable 8 років тому +9

    Why does he have to say men are source material here, did feminists break in here as well?

  • @ergbudster3333
    @ergbudster3333 11 років тому +2

    He says if Smith hadn't had a heart attack we would never have heard of Tony Blair. This he says is an example of fortuna at work. Hmm. For a Machiavelli scholar he isn't very Machiavellian, is he.

  • @pingukutepro
    @pingukutepro 3 роки тому

    This awesome video makes me disgust the popular culture depiction of him.

  • @diegoibanez2962
    @diegoibanez2962 2 роки тому

    Talks too much about concepts and thoughts, its far away from reality and living politics you extract anything... its just like schollars speech and Machiavelli its a practical guidebook from that time on how princes and rulers should behave and act to adquire Power or Mantain their thrones.

  • @vinozarazzi5633
    @vinozarazzi5633 2 роки тому +1

    Nothing "successful" about Tony Blair - a hollow nothing in an empty suit.

    • @user-hu3iy9gz5j
      @user-hu3iy9gz5j Рік тому

      If Blair wasn't successful, in one sense or the other, we wouldn't be aware of his existence

    • @vinozarazzi5633
      @vinozarazzi5633 Рік тому +1

      @@user-hu3iy9gz5j Putin is equally "successful" - both are WEF/Bilderberg Puppets

  • @jarrodyuki7081
    @jarrodyuki7081 2 роки тому

    machiavelli and ayn rand >>>kant nietzche >>than fyodor or schopenhaeur.

  • @dushyantshukla8754
    @dushyantshukla8754 6 років тому +1

    Seneca bad luck that was .... hahaha

  • @nanayponsing9390
    @nanayponsing9390 2 роки тому

    PINKLAWANS ARE NOT ALLOWED ON THIS CHANNEL.

  • @bbok1616
    @bbok1616 7 місяців тому

    Sleepy Joe is Scipio

  • @matthewrobinson7427
    @matthewrobinson7427 3 роки тому

    I think he's trying to fool the world my opinon I don't believe he can even see straight therefore it's not a proven fact

  • @josephsellers5978
    @josephsellers5978 10 місяців тому

    Not near as Machiavellian as Christ and that bs kingdom