The browser you are using is not supported by this website. All versions of Internet Explorer are no longer supported, either by us or Microsoft (read more here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/windows/end-of-ie-support).

Please use a modern browser to fully experience our website, such as the newest versions of Edge, Chrome, Firefox or Safari etc.

Mads Jensen. Photo.

Mads Jensen

Researcher

Mads Jensen. Photo.

By convention or by nature : Melanchthon's criticism of late medieval Ockhamist political thought in the Commentarii in aliquot politicos libros Aristoteles

Author

  • Mads Langballe Jensen

Summary, in English

The article argues that existing scholarship has missed Melanchthon's central objective in writing the Commentarii in aliquot politicos libros Aristoteles. Rather than merely criticizing peasants and radical preachers, Melanchthon sought to refute the Ockhamist political thought of Gabriel Biel and John Mair. Using Aristotle's naturalism within the theological framework of the political order as ordained by God, Melanchthon criticized the conventionalist account of the Ockhamists, specifically the principles underlying the case for popular sovereignty or the power of the community over the ruler. Instead he put forward a theory of politics and constitutional monarchy grounded in natural law.

Publishing year

2014

Language

English

Pages

1-28

Publication/Series

History of Political Thought

Volume

35

Issue

1

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Imprint Academic

Topic

  • History
  • History of Science and Ideas

Keywords

  • Aristotle
  • Constitutionalism
  • Lutheran reformation
  • Monarchy
  • Natural law
  • Philipp Melanchthon
  • Popular sovereignty
  • Scholasticism

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 0143-781X