Макијавели и амбивалентноста на prudenza: политиката како животна стратегија

Abstract

This paper examines Machiavelli’s concept of prudenza as a pivotal redefinition of Aristotelian φρόνησις. Rather than a moral orientation toward the good, Machiavelli frames prudenza as a pragmatic capacity for survival and political effectiveness—an ability to anticipate risks, seize the right moment, and act decisively under the pressure of fortuna. The analysis highlights the ambivalence of this virtue, which can appear both as a form of political responsibility and as rationalized cynicism legitimizing cruelty and deception for the sake of stability. By exploring its rhetorical dimension and contemporary relevance, the paper argues that prudenza remains a provocative paradigm of practical reason, challenging us to balance effectiveness with ethical limits in times of crisis.