Il potere e la gloria. Antropologie del realismo politico

[Autom. eng. transl.] The gallery of political realism can be traced back to thinkers who are very distant from each other, from Thucydides to Saint Augustine, from Machiavelli to Max Weber, from Thomas Hobbes to Carl Schmitt. Two elements in particular characterize this tradition: the idea that "human nature" represents a constant fact and the conviction that such a "nature" makes human beings perpetually dissatisfied with their condition and irremediably in conflict with each other. Precisely by virtue of this negative anthropology, realists believe that human beings always aim to pursue security, to extend their wealth and to defend their honor. The volume instead intends to examine this anthropological pessimism in more depth. And, in particular, it aims to show how, behind an apparent coherence, rather clear divergences are hidden. The aim is therefore to explore the multiple anthropologies of political realism, recognizing and distinguishing the different ways in which that disturbing “nature” – more or less invariant – that leads human beings to desire power and pursue glory has been represented and explained.