Professor David Peimer
Machiavelli: Hero? Villain? Realist? Cynic? Philosopher?
Summary
Five hundred years after his death, the name of Machiavelli continues to evoke passionate debate. In this presentation, we will look at the man, his life, ideas, and influence on political philosophy. We will explore how he emancipated politics from theology and described what he saw rulers actually doing—a reality often bereft of questions of good and bad in the relentless pursuit of power. Lastly, we will examine how his mere name conjures up a dark mythology and vision.
Professor David Peimer
David Peimer is a Professor of Literature, Film and Theatre in the UK. He has worked for the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, New York University (Global Division) and was a Fulbright Scholar at Columbia University. Born in South Africa, David has won numerous awards for playwriting and directing in New York, UK, Berlin, EU Parliament (Brussels), Athens, Budapest, Zululand and more. He has most recently directed Dame Janet Suzman in his own play, Joanna’s Story, at London Jewish Book Week. He has published widely with books including: Armed Response: Plays from South Africa, the digital book, Theatre in the Camps. He is on the board of the Pinter Centre (London), and has been involved with the Mandela Foundation, Vaclav Havel Foundation and directed a range of plays at Mr Havel’s Prague theatre.