William of Ockham: A Short Discourse on Tyrannical GovernmentWilliam of Ockham (c. 1285-c. 1347) was the most eminent and influential theologian and philosopher of his day, a giant in the history of political thought. He was a Franciscan friar who came to believe that the Avignonese papacy of John XXII had set out to destroy the religious ideal on which the Franciscan order was based: the complete poverty of Christ and the apostles. This is the first complete text by Ockham to be published in English. The Short Discourse is a passionate but compelling statement of Ockham's position on the most fundamental political problem of the medieval period: the relationship of supreme spiritual authority, as represented by the pope, to the autonomous secular authority claimed by the medieval empire and the emerging nation-states of Europe. Professor McGrade's introduction, and the notes on the translation make the volume wholly accessible to a modern readership, while a full bibliography and chronology are included as further aids to the reader. |
Contents
Book I | 5 |
Book II | 17 |
Book III | 71 |
Book IV | 105 |
Book V | 131 |
Book VI | 155 |
text and translation | 171 |
Chapters | 187 |
Other editions - View all
William of Ockham: A Short Discourse on Tyrannical Government William of Ockham No preview available - 1992 |
Common terms and phrases
according answer apostles arguments assertion Augustine Augustinus Triumphus authority believers belong bishops blessed Peter Book Caesar canon CHAPTER Christ Christ's words Christian command Corpus iuris civilis decree decretals depose dispute divine law divine Scriptures DMLB earthly exclusive lordship Extra faith fathers fullness of power Giles of Rome give gloss God's gospel law Gratian Hence heresy heretical holy human law Innocent John of Paris John XXII judge judgment kingdom Knysh lord lordship of temporal Matthew means Michael of Cesena mystical sense natural law obey Ockham Offler Old Testament ordinance ownership papal papal power permissible pope's power possessed power in temporal power the pope precept priest proved Roman Church Roman Empire rule rulers says Scholz secular seems Short Discourse slave someone successors superior supreme pontiff swords temporal matters temporal things translated true lordship true temporal jurisdiction truth tyrannical unbelievers understood usurped William of Ockham