Machiavelli and the problems of military force : a war of one's own / Sean Erwin.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Erwin, Sean, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Military art and science--History--16th century.

Military art and science.

Politics and war.

Militia--History--16th century.

Militia.

War.

Machiavelli, Niccolò, 1469-1527. Arte della guerra.

Machiavelli, Niccolò.

Physical Description:

199 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

London ; New York : Bloomsbury Academic, 2023.

Summary:

"Central to Niccolò Machiavelli's writing is the argument that a successful state is one that prefers to lose with its own arms (arma propriis) than to win with the arms of others (arma alienis). This book sheds light on Machiavelli's critiques of military force and provides an important reinterpretation of his military theory. Sean Erwin argues that the distinction between arma propriis and arma alienis poses a central problem to Machiavelli's case for why modern political institutions offer modes of political existence that ancient ones did not. Starting from the influence of Lucretius and Aelianus Tacticus on the Arte della guerra, the book examines Machiavelli' criticism of mercenary, auxiliary and mixed forces. Erwin also engages with Deleuze, Foucault and Spinoza to demonstrate how Machiavelli' political philosophy continues to have contemporary relevance. Giving due consideration to an overlooked conceptual distinction in Machiavelli studies, this book is an important and original contribution to the field."-- Provided by publisher

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

1350323810

9781350323810

OCLC:

1368354252

Publisher Number:

90101362199