The Power of Persuasion. Rhetoric, Common Judgment and Machiavelli in Hobbes
In this article, I explore the elusive function of rhetoric as a means to political pacification. With particular reference to Hobbes’s doctrine of the prophetic foundation of commonwealths, I contend that public persuasion, while being in most cases subversive and harmful, can sometimes cultivate m...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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University of Bologna
2019-06-01
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| Series: | Scienza & Politica |
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| Online Access: | https://scienzaepolitica.unibo.it/article/view/9615 |
| _version_ | 1818305857741389824 |
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| author | Guido Frilli |
| author_facet | Guido Frilli |
| author_sort | Guido Frilli |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In this article, I explore the elusive function of rhetoric as a means to political pacification. With particular reference to Hobbes’s doctrine of the prophetic foundation of commonwealths, I contend that public persuasion, while being in most cases subversive and harmful, can sometimes cultivate men and make them more sociable. I purport thereby to qualify Hobbes’s denunciation of the seditious character of persuasion, and to question his alleged depreciation of common judgment as intrinsically gullible and passive. I argue in conclusion that there is more continuity on this score between Hobbes and Machiavelli than usually acknowledged, but also that this affinity threatens the unity of Hobbes’s argument. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T06:33:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-93a5ac9c1b0342ceb40ab48513eb1295 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1590-4946 1825-9618 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T06:33:15Z |
| publishDate | 2019-06-01 |
| publisher | University of Bologna |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scienza & Politica |
| spelling | doaj.art-93a5ac9c1b0342ceb40ab48513eb12952022-12-21T23:56:33ZengUniversity of BolognaScienza & Politica1590-49461825-96182019-06-01316010.6092/issn.1825-9618/96158227The Power of Persuasion. Rhetoric, Common Judgment and Machiavelli in HobbesGuido Frilli0Università di FirenzeIn this article, I explore the elusive function of rhetoric as a means to political pacification. With particular reference to Hobbes’s doctrine of the prophetic foundation of commonwealths, I contend that public persuasion, while being in most cases subversive and harmful, can sometimes cultivate men and make them more sociable. I purport thereby to qualify Hobbes’s denunciation of the seditious character of persuasion, and to question his alleged depreciation of common judgment as intrinsically gullible and passive. I argue in conclusion that there is more continuity on this score between Hobbes and Machiavelli than usually acknowledged, but also that this affinity threatens the unity of Hobbes’s argument.https://scienzaepolitica.unibo.it/article/view/9615hobbespersuasionereligionegiudizio comunemachiavellidemocrazia |
| spellingShingle | Guido Frilli The Power of Persuasion. Rhetoric, Common Judgment and Machiavelli in Hobbes Scienza & Politica hobbes persuasione religione giudizio comune machiavelli democrazia |
| title | The Power of Persuasion. Rhetoric, Common Judgment and Machiavelli in Hobbes |
| title_full | The Power of Persuasion. Rhetoric, Common Judgment and Machiavelli in Hobbes |
| title_fullStr | The Power of Persuasion. Rhetoric, Common Judgment and Machiavelli in Hobbes |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Power of Persuasion. Rhetoric, Common Judgment and Machiavelli in Hobbes |
| title_short | The Power of Persuasion. Rhetoric, Common Judgment and Machiavelli in Hobbes |
| title_sort | power of persuasion rhetoric common judgment and machiavelli in hobbes |
| topic | hobbes persuasione religione giudizio comune machiavelli democrazia |
| url | https://scienzaepolitica.unibo.it/article/view/9615 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT guidofrilli thepowerofpersuasionrhetoriccommonjudgmentandmachiavelliinhobbes AT guidofrilli powerofpersuasionrhetoriccommonjudgmentandmachiavelliinhobbes |