«Accustomed to live in freedom». War and Religion in the Machiavellian Constitution of Freedom

Abstract

This essay intends to fill some gaps in my L’ordinamento della libertà (2013) concerning, in particular, the role played by “one’s own arms” and “religion” in the Machiavellian conception of freedom and its reality in the Florentine republic. The analysis confirms that freedom, according to Machiavelli, does not coincide with the absoluteness of the will, but with the ability to fight both with weapons and with religious symbols, also bringing into play their lives if necessary, within a defined context in order to transform it.

Keywords

• Libertà
• Guerra
• Armi proprie
• Religione
• Ordinamento