Yksi monien puolesta : Louis Althusserin Machiavelli-tulkinnasta

Authors

• Mikko Lahtinen

Abstract

Louis Althusser’s posthumous writings include material dealing with Niccolò Machiavelli. This might come as a surprise to those who know Althusser only through the writings published before his death, because in these texts the philosopher does not analyse Machiavelli. In spite of that silence Machiavelli was close to Althusser as early as in the beginning of the 60’s. In this article the aim is not to explicate the supposed implicit influence of Machiavelli on Althusser’s writings published in the 60’s and 70’s. Instead an analysis is made of Althusser’s interpretation of Machiavelli as it comes out in his posthumous writings. For Althusser Machiavelli is not primarily a theoretician but writer who tries to pose the political problems arising from his own specific conjuncture. The Prince itself is a political act because in this book Machiavelli sets the political problems of his conjuncture from the point of view of the people (multitudine). Even though some unknown prince has to solve these problems, this Machiavellian Realpolitik has been set exclusively for the people. Althusser’s interpretation is an important contribution because it helps to overcome the old quarrel between Machiavellian and anti-Machiavellian interpretations of Machiavelli. It helps us also to understand the political nature of Machiavelli’s practice as a writer.