Politics and Philosophy

Mikko Lahtinen: Mikko Lahtinen, Soc.Sc.D. (1997) in Political Science, University of Tampere (Finland), Ph.D. (2006) in History of Ideas, University of Oulu (Finland), is senior lecturer of Political Science at University of Tampere. He has published widely on the political theory, history of political philosophy from Antiquity to contemporary thought, Niccolò Machiavelli and Renaissance thought, Montesquieu and Enlightenment, and the Marxist theory from Marx to Gramsci and Althusser. His theoretical-methodological work focuses on the development of the 'conjunctural' theory of history and politics. His forthcoming book "The Land of Libries" (in Finnish) concerns public library as a strong democratic element in Finnish society.

Often portrayed as an aloof philosopher, Lahtinen argues that his work on Machiavelli reveals Althusser's deep commitment to political practice

ForewordAuthor's Preface to the English EditionChapter 1 Introductory Comments1.1 Althusser, Machiavelli and political theory1.2 Althusser's contribution to Machiavelli scholarship1.3 The approach of the present studyChapter 2 A Critique of Hegelianism2.1 A critique of Hegelian dialectics2.2 Althusser's Marxism2.3. Althusser's self-criticism2.4. The 'Machiavellian' LeninChapter 3 Aleatory Materialism3.1. Prologue: Machiavelli's solitude3.2. The underground current of the materialism of the encounterChapter 4 Althusser's Aleatory Machiavelli4.1. A preliminary schema: the two dimensions of Machiavelli's differentia specifica4.2. Machiavelli's differentia specifica in the history of political thought4.3. The praxis of The Prince: the text as a political act4.4. The praxis of the prince: the aleatory truth4.5. The praxis of the prince: the project and strategy of the new prince4.6. Epilogue: Althusser's interpretation of MachiavelliChapter 5 The Subversive Machiavelli5.1. The art of war and the art of politics5.2. The destructive current of fortuna5.3. The aspects of fortuna5.4. Lady fortuna and the young men5.5. The rise and fall of Cesare Borgia5.6. 'A stable people'5.7. Epilogue: Machiavelli and the taming of chanceChapter 6 ConclusionReferencesIndex