Cary J. Nederman Bücher

The book explores the complexities of medieval contributions to modern Western political thought, engaging with contrasting scholarly views. It critiques the Baron thesis of a definitive break between medieval and modern political thinking and counters the idea of complete continuity. Cary J. Nederman advocates for a nuanced understanding that recognizes both continuity and change, emphasizing the importance of contextual and philosophical factors in shaping the European tradition of political theory. He suggests that the terms "medieval" and "modern" should be used flexibly.

Machiavelli was infamous for his support of brutality and repression as valid political instruments. This book highlights the complexities in his thought, highlighting that he advocated democracy as much as dictatorship, debate as much as violence, depending upon prevailing political conditions.

Surveys the many different impacts of Ciceronian theories on a diverse array of texts and authors between 1100 and 1550, presenting a counternarrative to the widely accepted belief in the dominance of Aristotelianism in early European political and social thought.