The Story Behind Machiavelli's Philosophy - Dr Alexander Lee - #321

**Chris Williamson** (0:00)
Hello, friends. Welcome back to the show. My guest today is Alexander Lee. He's a Renaissance historian at the University of Warwick and an author. And we are talking about the story behind Machiavelli's philosophy. Niccolo Machiavelli is one of the most famous political philosophers of all time. His work is often considered ruthless, brutal and manipulative, but who was the man behind the words? Alexander has just written one of the most insightful and comprehensive biographies of Machiavelli ever. So let's return to 15th century Florence and find out what Niccolo was really like, how he continually failed in his own political career, why he threw up on an old woman after having sex with her, the truth underpinning his views on human nature and much more. I've mentioned previously that learning about the times and the context and the setting and the history of the environment in which philosophies were created gives you a complete new perspective on what that person was trying to get across. And we learn today Machiavelli is just this flawed human. You know, he gets drunk with his friends, he turns up late to meetings, he cheats on his wife. And it reminds us that these titans of history, they were flawed humans just the same as we are. It reminds us that we can do great things in life. The fact that we go through the vicissitudes of human days isn't a denier of our capacity to do fantastic things with our time on earth. Plus, Alex has the perfect historian's narrator voice. So yeah, sit back and just enjoy him telling you what 15th century Florence was like. In other news, this episode is brought to you by DW Aligners. Get the perfect straight smile that you have always dreamed of in less than six months at 70% cheaper than traditional methods. You may have been thinking, I really would like to get my smile sorted out, but I don't really want to have braces and these other Invisible Aligners, they seem really expensive. DW Aligners, Diamond White's Invisible Aligners, allow you to achieve that perfect straight smile 70% cheaper than other traditional Invisible Align methods by reducing your trips to the dentist. You track your progress using Diamond White's self-scan unit, which uses artificial intelligence and their team of registered dentists to ensure that you're moving forward correctly. They've done half a billion scans and counting. It's an easier, quicker and cheaper way to get the smile that you've always wanted whilst still receiving all the support and expertise that you would traditionally. Plus they offer great finance plans. They give you a treatment coordinator to help you through every step of the way. And they have digital scanning systems around the UK, if you don't want to do it at home. Head to dwaligners.co.uk/modernwisdom to get that 70% discount on traditional Invisible Aligner methods. Sorry to people in America or outside of the UK, I can't get you this yet. But for those of us who are in the UK, dwaligners.co.uk/modernwisdom, go and get the perfect smile that you have always wanted. In other, other news, this episode is brought to you by the Hybrid Pillow. If you are someone who likes a supportive pillow but has found the existing memory forms are too uncomfortable, too firm and just don't feel nice when you go to bed at night, this is the solution for you. It is the first pillow to combine traditional comfort with revolutionary memory foam technologies. You get, it's like an Easter egg, you know, a big Easter egg, right? There's chocolate around the outside, that's the foam, and then in the middle, there's a 50-50 blend of duck feather and down. So if you want support but you need the comfort of a traditional feather pillow, this is for you. Having a hybrid mix provides the orthopedic support of memory foam which relieves pressure buildup around the neck area, it keeps your head and your spine aligned, and then the feather and the down core softens the pillow and makes sure that you stay cool and comfortable throughout the night. If you've tried other memory foam pillows but found them too firm and uncomfortable, this is for you. It'll help to reduce muscle soreness in the morning, keeps your spine properly aligned throughout the night and reduces how much you wake up from head movement. Plus, VideoGuideen has got one of these. So if you are someone that wants to use the exact same pillow that VideoGuideen rests that beautiful mullet of his on every single night, head to thehybridpillow.com and use the code MW20 for 20% off. Again, this is only in the UK, sorry, everybody else. They haven't got international shipping yet. But thehybridpillow.com and the code MW20 for 20% off. They also offer a guaranteed better night's sleep or your money back. So if you are due a pillow upgrade, this is for you. thehybridpillow.com and MW20 for that 20% discount. But now it is time for the wise and wonderful Alexander Lee.