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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "PL 312"
COURSE NAME: "Machiavelli"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2026
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Andrea Moudarres
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: MW 1:30 PM 2:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisites: PL 210 recommended
OFFICE HOURS:
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
No great political thinker is more controversial than Niccolò Machiavelli. He has been accused of being a teacher of evil and an advisor to tyrants, and the very term “Machiavellian” has become a byword for cunning wickedness. On the other hand, he has been praised as a philosopher of liberty and an Italian patriot. For some he is the founder of modern political realism, for others a reviver of ancient virtue. What is certain is that his influence has been immense, even if not always acknowledged. Issues on which he reflected profoundly and which are still with us include the problem of political morality (i.e., can a political leader afford to be good?), the relation between politics and religion, imperialism, and the relative merits of autocracies and republics. This course will introduce Machiavelli’s political thought through selections from the Prince and other relevant texts.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

According to Machiavelli, what are the virtues of a political leader?

Do they coincide with the moral virtues as traditionally understood?

 Who should govern: a prince, the people, or an aristocratic elite?

How to succeed in war and foreign affairs.

The proper “use” of religion in a healthy political order.

How a republic can preserve freedom and how it can lose it. 
LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Gain experience in the art of careful reading (Machiavelli being a very careful writer).

Learn to appreciate the rhetorical, ironical, and comical dimensions of Machiavelli’s work.

 Study and interpret Machiavelli’s views concerning perennial political problems and practical strategies for addressing them.

Improve your capacities for clear thinking, speaking, and writing.
TEXTBOOK:
NONE
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Participation 20
Presentation 20
Paper 1 20
Paper 2 20
Final Exam 20

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Students should attend all classes, barring illness or other compelling impediment.
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
SCHEDULE

Tentative Syllabus - Subject to Change

Calendar

Week 1: Introduction: Machiavelli’s life and works

 

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2008/09/15/machiavelli-the-prince-florence

 

Harvey Mansfield, “Niccolò Machiavelli” (Encyclopedia Britannica):

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Niccolo-Machiavelli

 

Leo Strauss, Thoughts on Machiavelli (Introduction)

 

Harvey Mansfield, “Machiavelli’s Political Science” in Mansfield, Machiavelli’s Virtue, University of Chicago Press, 1996, pp. 258-280.

 

Quentin Skinner, The Foundations of Modern Political Thought (selections)

 

Week 2:  Machiavelli, letter to Vettori of Dec. 10, 1513 (on his daily life and how he wrote the Prince); Dedicatory Letter to the Prince

 

The Prince, chapters 1-6

 

Quentin Skinner, “Machiavelli on virtù and the maintenance of liberty” in Skinner, Visions of Politics vol. 2, Cambridge UP, 2002, pp. 160-185.

 

Peter Stacey, The State in Machiavelli (selections)

 

Visit to Florence

 

Week 3: The Prince, 7-14

 

Victoria Kahn, “Virtù and the Example of Agathocles in Machiavelli's Prince,” in Machiavelli and the Literary Discourse, pp. 195-217.

 

James Hankins, Virtue Politics (selections)

 

Week 4: The Prince, 15-18

 

Cicero, On Duties (selections)

 

Seneca, On Clemency (selections)

 

Peter Stacey, Roman Monarchy and the Renaissance Prince (selections)

 

Week 5: The Prince, 19-26

 

Hannah Piktin, Fortune is a Woman (selections)

 

Visit to San Pietro in Vincoli to see Michelangelo’s Moses (part of the tomb of Pope Julius II)

 

Week 6: Discourses on Livy: Dedicatory Letter, I. Preface, I.1-8

 

J. G. A. Pocock, “Machiavelli and Rome: The Republic as Idea and History,” in The Cambridge Companion to Machiavelli, pp. 144-156.

 

Vickie Sullivan, Machiavelli’s Three Romes (selections).

 

Week 7: Discourses on Livy: I.9-21, 25-30, 34-35, 37-46, 51-60

 

Carl Schmitt, Dictatorship (selections); Political Theology (selections).

 

Giorgio Agamben, State of Exception (selections).

 

Week 8: Discourses on Livy: III. 1-6, 24

 

Week 9: Florentine Histories: Dedicatory Letter; Preface; Book II

 

Anna Maria Cabrini, “Machiavelli’s Istorie Fiorentine”, in The Cambridge Companion to Machiavelli, 128-143.

 

Leonardo Bruni, Panegyric of the City of Florence

 

Week 10: Florentine Histories: Book III, 1-21; Book IV, 1

Gisela Bock, “Civic Discord in Machiavelli’s Istorie Fiorentine”, in Machiavelli and Republicanism, ed. G. Bock, Q. Skinner, and M. Viroli, Cambridge UP, 1990), 181-201.

Week 11: Florentine Histories: Book IV, 26-33; Book VII, 1-6

 

Michelle Clarke, Machiavelli’s Florentine Republic, Cambridge UP, 2018 (selections).

 

Week 12: Mandragola

Jane Tylus, “Theater and Its Social Uses: Machiavelli's Mandragola and the Spectacle of Infamy,” Renaissance Quarterly53.3 (2000): 656-686.

 

Michelle Clarke, “Curing Virtue: Epicureanism and Erotic Fantasy in Machiavelli’s Mandragola”,  Political Theory, 50.6 (December 2022): 913-938.

 

Week 13: Philosophic assessments 1

Baruch Spinoza, Tractatus Politicus, chap. 5

 

Jean Jacques Rousseau, Social Contract, selected passages commenting on Machiavelli, particularly III.6.

 

G. W. Hegel, The German Constitution in Hegel, Political Writings, ed. Laurence Dickey and H.B. Nisbet, Cambridge UP, 1999, pp. 77-83.

 

Week 14: Philosophical assessments 2

 

Louis Althusser, Machiavelli and Us (selections)

 

Antonio Gramsci, Prison Notebooks (selections)

 

Hannah Arendt, “What is Authority?”