Vitam Instituere: A Genealogy of the Institution

In this book, Roberto Esposito continues his philosophical exploration of the relation between institutions and human life. Starting from the enigmatic Latin term vitam instituere, he charts its early emergence in modern philosophy and its development along a path that culminates in a novel understanding of the relationship between politics and life.

Although the concept of institutio vitae originated in Roman law, it was Machiavelli who first conceived of politics as an instituent force. A...