学术资讯｜政治哲学工作坊第六十讲：马基雅维利论古罗马与被征服的现代

Organizer

Department of Philosophy (Zhuhai)， Sun Yat-sen University

Topic

Machiavelli on Ancient Rome as the Cause of Modern Subjugation (Virtual）

Speaker

Vickie SULLIVAN

Professor of Political Science, Tufts University

Moderator

Jun-Hyeok KWAK

Professor, Department of Philosophy (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-sen University

Time

April 25th, 20:00-22:00

Place

VOOV: 219-384-009

Abstract

Machiavelli quite explicitly depicts pagan Rome as the opposite of Christendom. He declares that whereas paganism made human beings strong, Christianity renders them weak. Further analysis reveals, however, that Machiavelli regards many of the defects of the modern world as growing out of ancient Rome. Machiavelli’s analysis shows that Rome’s tremendous strength, evidenced by its vast conquests, enfeebled the myriad peoples it vanquished; Machiavelli finds that that enfeeblement continues to his own time. Not only was Rome’s strength a cause of modern weakness, but so too was its internal defects. Internally, Rome failed to thwart its ambitious men. Ultimately, that failure gave rise to Julius Caesar. Machiavelli declares both that Caesar was Rome’s first tyrant and that Rome was never again free. Modern peoples remain subjected to the ramifications of Rome’s decisive failure in this regard. 

主办

中山大学哲学系（珠海）

主题

马基雅维利论古罗马与被征服的现代

（线上）

主讲

Vickie SULLIVAN

塔夫茨大学政治学系教授

主持

Jun-Hyeok KWAK （郭峻赫）

中山大学哲学系（珠海）教授

时间

2024年4月25日 20:00-22:00

地点

腾讯会议： 219-384-009

摘要

马基雅维利相当明确地将异教罗马刻画成基督教世界的对立面。 他宣称异教使人强悍，而基督教使人软弱。 然而，进一步的分析揭示，马基雅维利将现代世界的许多弊病归源于古罗马。 马基雅维利的分析表明，罗马的强大实力（以其大规模的征服为证）削弱了它所征服的无数民族，而这种衰弱一直延续到马基雅维利所处的时代。 罗马的强大不仅是现代疲弱的原因之一，也是其内部积病的原因。对内，罗马没能挫败那些野心勃勃的人，以至于最终造就了尤利乌斯·凯撒的崛起。马基雅维利宣称恺撒是罗马的第一个暴君，并且罗马再也不会自由了。 从这方面来说，现代人仍然承受着罗马决定性失败的后果。