John of Salisbury: PolicraticusJohn of Salisbury (c. 1115-1180) was the foremost political theorist of his age. He was trained in scholastic theology and philosophy at Paris, and his writings are invaluable for summarizing many of the metaphysical speculations of his time. The Policraticus is his main work, and is regarded as the first complete work of political theory to be written in the Latin Middle Ages. Cary Nederman's new edition and translation, currently the only version available in English, is primarily aimed at undergraduate students of the history of political thought and medieval history. His new translation shows how important this text is in understanding the mores, forms of conduct and beliefs of the most powerful and learned segments of twelfth century Western Europe. |
Contents
Prologue | 3 |
BOOK I | 9 |
That pride is the root of all evil | 17 |
That the Romans are dedicated to vanity | 22 |
On the difference between the prince | 28 |
That the authority of divine law consists | 35 |
That the ruler must have the law of | 41 |
Of the moderation of the princes justice | 49 |
Of the honour to be exhibited by soldiers | 122 |
Who are the feet of the republic | 125 |
The vices of the powerful are to | 131 |
Of the coherence of the head and | 137 |
BOOK VII | 145 |
Of the errors of the Academics and | 150 |
That virtue is the unique path to being | 156 |
Of ambition and that passion | 162 |
What are the other rewards of princes | 56 |
BOOK V | 65 |
What bad and good happen to subjects | 75 |
Of those who hold the place of the heart | 81 |
Of the eyes ears and tongue of | 91 |
What pertains to the sacred calling | 95 |
BOOK VI | 103 |
That military service requires selection | 109 |
The armed soldier is by necessity bound | 115 |
Common terms and phrases
accepted according affairs asserts authority avarice believe blessed blood body Caesar Caligula censure CHAPTER charity Christ Church Cicero command courtiers crime death deceit desire devotion diligently divine duties Ecclesiasticus emperor enemy Epicureans equity eternal everything evil eyes faith father favour fear flatterers flesh frivolities glory hand happiness holy honour human ignorant imitate impious iniquitous iniquity injury John John of Salisbury John's judge judgment justice king kingdom knowledge labours leprosy lest liberty living Lord Lucan matters means military mind moderation moral nature oath one's Orosius Ovid path permitted person Pharsalia philosophers Plato pleasure Plutarch Policraticus political pontiff possess precepts preferred present priests prince prophet Proverbs public enemy punishment Quentin Skinner Quintilian Quintus Serenus reason religion republic Roman ruler servant soldiers someone sort soul spirit subjects sword things Trajan tribe of Levi truth tyranny tyrant unless Vegetius vices virtue whoever wisdom wise wish words