Anti-Machiavel

E64814

Anti-Machiavel is an 18th-century political treatise by Frederick II of Prussia that refutes Machiavelli’s principles in The Prince and advocates for enlightened, moral rulership.


Statements (47)
Predicate Object
instanceOf book
political treatise
aim to present a moral code for princes
to refute Machiavelli’s principles in The Prince
author Frederick II of Prussia
Frederick the Great
basedOnWork The Prince
countryOfOrigin Kingdom of Prussia
criticizesAuthor Niccolò Machiavelli
criticizesWork The Prince
dateOfFirstEdition September 1740
editor Voltaire
genre political philosophy
political theory
hasTranslation English
German
Italian
historicalContext written shortly before Frederick II became King of Prussia
historicalReception example of anti-Machiavellian literature
important text of early reign of Frederick the Great
influencedBy Enlightenment ideals
natural law theory
languageOfFirstEdition French
mainSubject critique of Machiavellianism
enlightened absolutism
monarchy
political ethics
notableTheme compatibility of power and virtue
limits of political deception
responsibility of rulers toward subjects
originalLanguage French
philosophicalCurrent Enlightenment political thought
placeOfFirstPublication The Hague
politicalModelPromoted enlightened absolutism
positionOnRulership advocates enlightened rulership
advocates moral rulership
rejects raison d’état as sole guide
publicationCentury 18th century
publicationYear 1740
publisher Jean van Duren
structure chapter-by-chapter commentary on The Prince
title Anti-Machiavel
viewOfLaw laws should be just and stable
viewOfPrince prince should be virtuous
prince should seek subjects’ happiness
viewOfReligion religion is useful for morality and social order
viewOfWar war should be limited and defensive

Referenced by (2)
Subject (surface form when different) Predicate
Frederick II of Prussia
notableWork
Anti-Machiavel
title

Please wait…