Harvey Mansfield on Machiavelli, Straussianism, and the Character of Liberal Democracy
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Machiavelli's 'effectual truth' birthed modern empiricism - Mansfield argues that by prioritizing results over ideals, Machiavelli created the intellectual machinery for modern science and our obsession with rational control.
“Irony is what separates serious philosophy from the rest.”
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Democratic vulgarity serves a necessary political function - The discussion characterizes figures like Trump as 'Shakespearean vulgarians' who embody a raw, democratic spirit that is often more authentic than the polished norms of the elite.
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The supply of 'Great Books' has effectively dried up - Mansfield suggests that modern philosophy’s focus on technical control and the loss of classic irony has stifled the production of timeless, self-sustaining works of wisdom.