May 19, 2023
Author Quentin Skinner visits Google to discuss his book
“Machiavelli: A Very Short Introduction.”
Niccolo Machiavelli taught that political leaders must be prepared
to do evil so that good may come of it, and his name has been a
byword ever since for duplicity and immorality. Is his sinister
reputation deserved? In answering this question, Quentin Skinner
focuses on three of Machiavelli’s major works, The Prince, the
Discourses, and The History of Florence, and distills from them an
exceptionally clear introduction to Machiavelli's doctrines. He
discusses the influence of Roman moral thought on Machiavelli,
concentrating on the extent to which Machiavelli's teachings
represent a reaction against this tradition. Placing Machiavelli in
the proper social and intellectual context, Skinner reveals the
extraordinary originality of his attack on the prevailing moral and
political assumptions of his age.
Originally published in February of 2020.
Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.