Machiavelli and the Muqaddimah

Aug 15, 2025

Dive into the brilliance of Machiavelli and Ibn Khaldun as they reshape political philosophy. Discover how Khaldun's insights on the rise and fall of dynasties offer a cautionary tale against complacency. Unravel Machiavelli's pragmatic approach, emphasizing realpolitik amidst Italy's power struggles. Explore the rich connections between Islamic thought and Renaissance ideas, revealing the impact of cultures in shaping governance. Lastly, enjoy the unique blend of classic texts with gaming, connecting history to contemporary discussions.

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insights

INSIGHT

History As Data, Not Moral Law

Ibn Khaldun and Machiavelli shift political thought from prescription to description by deriving lessons from history.
They treat history as data to explain social patterns rather than as a moral guide.

insights

INSIGHT

Proto-Sociology In The Muqaddimah

Ibn Khaldun is a proto-sociologist who links individual behavior to larger social systems and patterns.
Machiavelli performs a similar empirical analysis but from the ruler's perspective.

insights

INSIGHT

Cooperation Rooted In Subsistence

Ibn Khaldun argues humans must cooperate to produce food, so social organization is necessary.
He builds from material needs to explain division of labor and civilization.

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The Sociological Insights of Ibn Khaldun and Machiavelli

06:54 • 50min

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The Lifecycle of Dynasties

57:07 • 21min

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The Pragmatic Politics of Machiavelli

01:17:55 • 35min

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Islamic History Meets Renaissance

01:53:07 • 7min

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Political Intrigue and Power Dynamics in 15th Century Italy

01:59:39 • 2min

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Exploring Utopian Ideals in Eastern and Western Philosophy

02:01:48 • 2min

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Gaming, History, and Culture

02:03:52 • 5min

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#2345

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Quran

The Quran is the holy book of Islam, containing prayers, moral guidance, historical narratives, and promises of Paradise. It is composed of 114 chapters (surahs) and is considered the word of God by Muslims. The Quran was revealed to Muhammad over a period of 23 years through the angel Gabriel and is regarded as the most important miracle of Muhammad and the culmination of a series of divine messages. It includes various types of verses such as law-giving, warning, narrative, and informative verses, and it forms the bedrock of Islamic law and guidance.

The City of the Sun

Tommaso Campanella

Tommaso Campanella's "The City of the Sun" is a 17th-century utopian novel depicting an ideal society governed by a philosopher-king. The city is characterized by communal living, strict social control, and the suppression of individual desires. While presented as a utopia, the book's rigid social structure and authoritarian governance foreshadow elements of totalitarian regimes. Campanella's work explores themes of social order, religious harmony, and the pursuit of a perfect society, but its methods are often seen as oppressive and unrealistic. The novel remains a significant example of utopian literature, highlighting both the allure and the potential dangers of striving for an idealized social structure.

#1006

• Mentioned in 22 episodes

Utopia

Sir Thomas More

Written in 1516, 'Utopia' by Sir Thomas More is a seminal work of fiction that presents an ideal society on a fictional island. The book is divided into two parts: the first critiques the social and economic issues of early 16th-century England, while the second introduces the Utopian society as a potential solution. Utopia is characterized by communal property, no class distinctions or poverty, little crime, religious freedom, and a strict egalitarian system. More uses this imaginary society to highlight the flaws of European politics and society of his time, advocating for a more just and equal world. The work is notable for its influence on later socialist and communist thought and continues to be a subject of discussion in political theory and philosophy.

#7694

• Mentioned in 4 episodes

Discourses on Livy

Niccolo Machiavelli

Written by Niccolò Machiavelli in the early 16th century, 'Discourses on Livy' is a three-book commentary on the first ten books of Titus Livy's 'Ab Urbe Condita'. The work examines the founding, maintenance, and protection of the Roman Republic, drawing lessons for modern republics. Machiavelli critiques the failure of his contemporaries to learn from ancient political history and argues for the importance of imitating the political virtues of the ancients. The book discusses various themes, including the role of public and private counsel, the institution of dictatorship, and the impact of religion on statecraft. It is a significant work in political philosophy, emphasizing the practical application of historical examples to contemporary political issues.

#217

• Mentioned in 64 episodes

The Prince

Niccolo Machiavelli

Written in the early 16th century, 'The Prince' is a realistic instruction guide for new rulers. Machiavelli argues that an effective leader must be skilled in the art of war, sometimes cruel, and willing to use deception and manipulation to achieve political goals. The book is divided into chapters that discuss various types of principalities, how to acquire and maintain power, and the qualities a prince should possess. Machiavelli uses historical examples, including the career of Cesare Borgia, to illustrate his points. The treatise emphasizes the importance of maintaining the goodwill of the people and the stability of the state, even if it means deviating from traditional virtues. 'The Prince' remains a controversial but influential work in modern political philosophy.

Professor Kozlowski ventures into the modern era of political philosophy with a look at two titans of early-Renaissance era political philosophy: Ibn Khaldun, the great Islamic historian and proto-sociologist/economist writing in the post-Mongol Invasion Abassid Caliphate, and Machiavelli, the political philosopher so famous that "Machiavellian" has become synonymous with pragmatic-to-the-point-of-being-a-jerk. We will look at their methods, their observations, their conclusions, and - importantly - their legacy.

Readings today originate in the Muqaddimah of Ibn Khaldun and Machiavelli's The Prince (as found in the Cohen textbook).

Now that we've entered the modern era, additional readings will be plentiful, especially now that people are writing Utopian literature! For today, there is Machiavelli's other landmark work of political philosophy: Discourses on Livy, the tale of "The City of Brass" from the 1001 Arabian Nights, Sir Thomas' More's Utopia, and Tommaso Campanella's City of the Sun. Finally, my video game recommendation is Homeworld: Deserts of Kharnak, as a rough science-fiction approximation of the nomadic Bedouin virtues and problems laid out by Ibn Khaldun.

If you're interested in Professor Kozlowski's other online projects, check out his website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠professorkozlowski.wordpress.com

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