Discourse On Guicciardini And His Political Thoughts

Francesco Guicciardini is an important historical figure in Renaissance Florence. This essay will introduce and analyze his life in detail within the social context so as to bring out his extraordinary life course, displaying his multi-profiles as a successful lawyer, politician, historian and political thinker.And this essay will further classify his works into three categories and illustrate it respectively: Historical works; intellectual works and political ones.Guicciadini's historical works have remarkably realistic political motives, and history is for him a tool of serving realistic politics ends; and the author's insightful perspectives are shown in the intellectual works and which lend a realistic color to his political thoughts; and his political works are the direct reflection of his political thoughts, which illustrate his particular political ideals.The essay will then analyze the historical background and origins of his political thoughts, the turbulent society at that time provides a lively experimental space for the development of his political thoughts and Guicciardini undoubtedly absorbs the essence. There is a direct inheritance between Guicciardini and republican ideals of classical republicanism and former civic humanists, and even the scholasticism has a huge impact on his political thoughts.Guicciardini's political thoughts are composed of four parts: Firstly his aristocratic republicanism and meritocracy; secondly he puts forward a systematic government blueprint; thirdly his realistic political view; fourthly his secular ideas...