Abstract
This paper aims to confront Francisco Suárez and Niccolò Machiavelli’s positions towards political and legislative powers. Both authors agree that legislative power originates from men coming together and that politics must be renewed according to the new social and cultural conditions of the modern world. Despite these coincidences, Machiavelli believes that the art of politics must leave its theological justification aside, whereas the Suarecian model follows the Aristotelian and scholastic tradition of power. In addition, Suárez conceives power as a subordinate strength to the righteous government of men and virtue. Differently, Machiavelli affirms that power leads to the ruler’s enrichment. Suárez answers to this position that the authority’s immoral practice to become wealthier cannot be a legitimate object of the law.References
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