Politics and Philosophy: Niccolò Machiavelli and Louis Althusser's Aleatory Materialism (Historical Materialism)

Often portrayed as an aloof philosopher, Louis Althusser's work on Niccolo Machiavelli reveals Althusser's deep commitment to political practice. Seeking to challenge the prevailing views on Althusser, Mikko Lahtinen argues that the French thinker cannot be understood from a purely philosophical perspective. "Seeking to challenge the prevailing views on Althusser through examining his interpretation of Machiavelli, Lahtinen argues that existing scholarship has approached this topic solely from a philosophical perspective, excluding politics altogether. The main argument is that, for Althusser, it was essential to reflect on how a conjunctural understanding of history could offer a theoretical starting point for political strategy."--Publisher website "Seeking to challenge the prevailing views on Althusser through examining his interpretation of Machiavelli, Lahtinen argues that existing scholarship has approached this topic solely from a philosophical perspective, excluding politics altogether. The main argument is that, for Althusser, it was essential to reflect on how a conjunctural understanding of history could offer a theoretical starting point for political strategy."--Pub. desc