Description
Book SynopsisUberto Decembrio’s Four Books on the Commonwealth (De re publica libri IV, ca. 1420), edited and translated by Paolo Ponzù Donato, is one of the earliest examples of the reception of Plato’s Republic in the fifteenth century. The humanistic dialogue provides an illuminating insight into such themes as justice, the best government, the morals of the prince and citizen, education, and religion. Decembrio’s dialogue is dedicated to Filippo Maria Visconti, duke of Milan, the ‘worst enemy’ of Florence. Making use of literary and documentary sources, Ponzù Donato convincingly proves that Decembrio’s thought, which shares many points with the Florentine humanist Leonardo Bruni, belongs to the same world of Civic Humanism.
Trade Review“This volume presents the student and scholar with an excellent text, translation, and critical apparatus.” Teresa Rodríguez, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. In: Renaissance Quarterly, Vol. 75, No. 3 (Fall 2022), pp. 975–976.
Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Abbreviations Note on Indexes Introduction 1 The Person: Uberto Decembrio 2 The De re publica libri IV: Structure and Themes 3 Uberto Decembrio’s ‘Civic Humanism’ 4 History of the Text 5 Editorial Principles De re publica libri IV / Four Books on the Commonwealth Liber I / Book 1 Liber II / Book 2 Liber III / Book 3 Liber IV / Book 4 Bibliography Glossarial Index General Index
