Medieval Political Thought

Bibliographic Data

ID23140955
AuthorsCary J Nederman (0000-0001-8175-7141, corresponding author)
Year2024
Pages36-46
Publication date2024-10-10
Open AccessNo
TypeCHAPTER
VenueThe Routledge Companion to Social and Political Philosophy (SOURCE_BOOK)
PublisherRoutledge (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.4324/9781003411598-5
OpenAlexW4403309246
ISBN9781003411598
LanguageEN
Citations received10

The present chapter addresses the nature and scope of political theory during the Western Middle Ages. After a brief examination of the chronology and application of the term “medieval,” it turns to a theme common to a large range of political thinkers from the period: the organic analogy between the community and a living body as a means of explaining the relationship between the public good and the particular parts of the communal order. First, a general overview of the origins and significance of the so-called “body politic” metaphor is offered. Thereafter, the ideas of three authors who illustrate the coherence and yet diversity of the deployment of the organic analogy are analyzed in detail: John of Salisbury (1115/20–1180), Marsiglio of Padua (1275/80–1342/43), and Nicole Oresme (1320/25–1382). A conclusion discusses some broader lessons to be learned from the study of medieval political theory.

Political science · Politics · History · Law · Reformation and Early Modern Christianity

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