Ockham and Political Discourse in the Late Middle Ages
Ockham and Political Discourse in the Late Middle Ages
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The English Franciscan William of Ockham (c.1285–1347) was one of the most influential philosophers and theologians in late medieval Europe. Fresh scholarship has shown his profound impact on logic, metaphysics, epistemology and the philosophy of language in the late Middle Ages and beyond. Following a dispute between the papacy and his Order, Ockham abandoned his academic career and devoted himself to anti-papal polemics. Scholars have produced divergent and often contradictory interpretations of Ockham as a political thinker: a destructive critic of the medieval Church, a medieval Catholic traditionalist, the Franciscan ideologue, and a constitutional liberal. This 2007 book offers a fresh reappraisal of Ockham's political thought by approaching his anti-papal writings as a series of polemical responses. His aggressive and persistent attack on the papacy emerges in this study as an attempt to rescue the ethical foundations of the Christian society from the political influences of heretical popes.
- A comprehensive reappraisal of the political thought of one of the greatest medieval philosophers and theologians
- Employs a 'contextualist' approach and highlights Ockham's 'republican' contribution to political and social thought
- Aimed at readers in medieval and intellectual history, as well as political science and medieval philosophy
Reviews & endorsements
"Shogimen’s careful readings and precise contextualization bring to the fore a full picture of an Ockham who has been only dimly viewed in the past. Serious scholars of medieval thought owe him a large debt of gratitude for writing a volume that will be read and debated for decades to come." -The Review of Politics, Cary J. Nederman
"There has been a comparative lull in literature on Ockham's political thought during the last two decades, in large part because the scholarship of figures like A.S. McGrade had so thoroughly defined it on traditionally political grounds. Shogimen's work has likely begun a new chapter in the scholarship of Ockham's political writings by introducing more expressly theological elements into the mixture, and this book will certainly deserve a place next to the analyses of McGrade, Kilcullen, Miethke, and Tierney in the library of any student of Ockham." -Stephen Lahey, Medievalia et Humanistica
"...his [Shogimen] well-written book examines particular issues in greater detail and depth than one finds in the earlier literature, and it is a welcome addition to our understanding of late medieval political thought." -Willam J. Courtenay, American Historical Review
"...the overall interpretation of Ockman's political thought is challenging, all the more since Shogimen focuses on what interested his subject most ecclesiastical affairs, rather than temporal regimes." -Thomas M. Izbicki, Speculum
"Shogimen has produced a highly useful study of Ockham as a polemical writer. He has certainly advanced the subject and those interested in late medieval political thought should certainly read this book.:Shogimen has produced a highly useful study of Ockham as a polemical writer. He has certainly advanced the subject and those interested in late medieval political thought should certainly read this book." -Joe Canning, English Historical Review
"an important and illuminating exploration of the theological and moral purpose behind Ockham’s political writings." -Heythrop Journal
Product details
- Published: October 2007
- Format: Hardback
- ISBN: 9780521845816
- Length: 322 pages
- Dimensions: 235 × 161 × 28 mm
- Weight: 0.65kg
- Availability: Available
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Table of Contents
- Preface
- List of abbreviations
- Introduction
- 1. The poverty controversy
- 2. A general theory of heresy
- 3. The problem of papal heresy
- 4. Papal plenitudo potestatis
- 5. Petrine primacy
- 6. The defence of human freedom
- Appendix
- Bibliography
- Index.
- Show more
