CLAUDE LEFORT READING THE PRINCE: CONFLICT, VIRTÙ, AND GLORY

Abstract

In this paper, I intend to articulate the notions of conflict, virtù, and glory in Machiaveli's The Prince, drawing especially from chapters VII, VIII, and IX of his work. I propose, initially, to articulate the fundamental notion of virtù – the human action to confront fortune – with the notion of glory – the evaluation of political action. Subsequently, I present an important interpretation on this theme, elaborated by Claude Lefort, whose thesis intends to reveal the relationship between virtù and glory as necessarily mediated by the notion of class conflict. Finally, I analyze and criticize his interpretation on the matter.