Niccolo machiavelli. the founder of modern political thought. revista polis. volum ix, nr. 3(33)/***

his study identifies a genealogy between Thomas Hobbes theory of absolute government and John Lockes liberal worldview.

It traces the seeds of eighteenth century optimistic liberal ideologies (endorsed by thinkers decisively influenced by Locke and Adam Smith) in Hobbes pessimistic theories concerning his radical distrust of the capacities of the common man and woman to build up democratic commonwealths.

Following Christopher Laschs path, it proposes a hopeful (or melioristic) view on politics, which (as opposed to the optimism of eighteenth century liberalism) does not propose endless and steady improvement or perfection.

It reflects on Machiavellis notion of virtu (virtue) that we could think of it in relation to Arendts idea of action.

The latter points to the ancient Athenian polis or to the American council system of direct democracy.