On August 21st we shall review a powerfully influential little book: The Prince by Machiavelli.
This book has huge global significance. Published in 1532, a great many world leaders over hundreds of years have read it and still do. For example Tony Blair was said to have it on his bedside table.
Do read the book (small but dense) and come for a fascinating discussion.
I shall post discussion questions later but for the time being:
Rather than the moral, fair and good life being the goal as described in the Harvard lectures we're studying this year, what would life be like if we decided that Machiavelli's advice was the best way to live and, held this up proudly as the goal?
While qualities of ruthlessness and deception are arguably necessary for the people in the roles Machiavelli is directing his book toward, should such qualities ever be celebrated?
