The fortunes of Jesuits offering political counsel and the fervent debates triggered by their activities take us into the heart of early modern European, especially Catholic political culture. Jesuits gave political advice and educated members of the Catholic elite—from secular and ecclesiastical princes to magistrates and young nobles lower down the political and social hierarchy— during a period of profound change to the outlook, organization, and exercise of government.1 The ways in which government was informed, organized, and communicated came increasingly under scrutiny and pressure to reform. The unravelling of Christian unity, while destabilizing the established normative framework, at the same time escalated the debate about the religious character of political, especially monarchical authority. The question as to whether the means and ends of political action could be aimed at the preservation (and expansion) of the state and yet remain anchored in Christian ethics greatly exercised princes, counsellors, and theologians. The urgency with which the issue was discussed is reflected in a vast and diverse literature on reason of state and the politics of conscience. A good part of this literature, in turn, reflects new trends in how political knowledge and information was produced, disseminated, and fed into political decisions. Over time, the authority of expertise changed and established itself more firmly as a collaborator and a source of legitimacy for political power.2 Expertise and experts in various

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耶稣会士作为近代早期世界的顾问 客座编辑：Harald E. Braun∵ 耶稣会士作为近代早期世界的顾问：介绍

耶稣会士提供政治建议的命运以及他们的活动引发的激烈辩论将我们带入了早期现代欧洲，尤其是天主教政治文化的核心。在政府的观点、组织和运作发生深刻变化的时期，耶稣会士提供政治建议和受过教育的天主教精英成员——从世俗和教会王子到地方法官和政治和社会等级较低的年轻贵族。 1 方式政府被告知、组织和沟通的方式越来越受到审查和改革压力。基督教团结的瓦解，在破坏既定规范框架的同时，同时加剧了关于政治，尤其是君主权威的宗教特征的争论。政治行动的手段和目的是否可以以维护（和扩张）国家为目标，同时仍然植根于基督教伦理，这个问题极大地影响了君主、顾问和神学家。讨论这个问题的紧迫性反映在大量多样的关于国家理性和良心政治的文献中。反过来，这些文献的很大一部分反映了政治知识和信息如何产生、传播和融入政治决策的新趋势。随着时间的推移，专业知识的权威发生了变化，并更加牢固地确立了自己作为合作者和政治权力合法性来源的地位。 2 各种领域的专业知识和专家 讨论这个问题的紧迫性反映在大量多样的关于国家理性和良心政治的文献中。反过来，这些文献的很大一部分反映了政治知识和信息如何产生、传播和融入政治决策的新趋势。随着时间的推移，专业知识的权威发生了变化，并更加牢固地确立了自己作为合作者和政治权力合法性来源的地位。 2 各种领域的专业知识和专家 讨论这个问题的紧迫性反映在大量多样的关于国家理性和良心政治的文献中。反过来，这些文献的很大一部分反映了政治知识和信息如何产生、传播和融入政治决策的新趋势。随着时间的推移，专业知识的权威发生了变化，并更加牢固地确立了自己作为合作者和政治权力合法性来源的地位。 2 各种领域的专业知识和专家