Hello friends,
Episode 20 of the podcast is now live! Jeremy is joined by author and podcaster Auron MacIntyre for a discussion on Niccolò Machiavelli’s The Prince.
They begin with the central question: is The Prince a handbook for tyranny, or is it simply an unflinching description of how politics actually works?
And more fundamentally, perhaps: can a “good” person ever be a successful ruler?
To answer these questions, the discussion dives into what Machiavelli really meant by virtù. It examines his ideas of power and political necessity, as well as his famous distinction between being feared and being loved.
Centuries on from being written, The Prince remains a hotly debated and highly misunderstood text. What is clear, though, is that this little book remains both indispensable and unsettling — for it strips the veil from power so we can see it clearly for what it is…
Watch the episode for free on Substack, or on YouTube if you prefer.
Enjoy!
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We’re currently reading The Brothers Karamazov. The next discussion is TODAY, September 1, noon ET — join us!
Watch back the previous discussions here if you missed them.
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