David M. Rasmussen, Boston College

This course will consider both the works of Machiavelli, The Prince, and, Discourses, as well as his distinctive contribution to the foundation of modern political philosophy. The first part of the course will be devoted to a careful study of his two major works. The last part of the course will consider Machiavelli in relationship to the tradition of modern political philosophy. We will be particularly interested in the relationship of Machiavelli to Hobbes, Rousseau, Kant, Hegel and Marx.