I wonder what exactly the expression "make an argument" means on this phrase: "Machiavelli makes the argument that in a strictly military sense a fortress is invariably a mistake."
I'm not sure if it is a idiomatic expression. Does it mean that Machiavelli advocates that this point is a mistake, or that he does not advocate this idea?
Best Answer
In this context "makes an argument" means exactly the same as "puts a case": he presents the reasons why he thinks that a fortress is a mistake when considered in a simply military sense.
It does not imply that there is a disagreement with any particular person.