Question

Compare the classical and medieval bodies politic.

Answer 1

Medieval Political Philosophy

First published Fri Jul 14, 2006; substantive revision Tue May 16, 2017

Medieval philosophy is the philosophy produced in Western Europe during the middle ages. There is no consensus, even among medievalists, as to when this period begins or ends;[1] however, it is conventional—and probably neither fully correct nor incorrect—to begin with Augustine (354–430), and note that the influence of medieval philosophy continued past even the birth of Descartes (1596–1650). Medieval political philosophy is the part of medieval philosophy that is concerned with political matters. Philosophical writing about politics during the middle ages (as during the early modern period) was often an attempt to influence public events, and the history of the subject therefore involves reference to those events. It also involves reference to developments in medieval culture, e.g., the renaissances of the ninth and twelfth centuries, and to the development of institutions such as the legal system and the universities. The strong relationship during this period between philosophy and religion also complicates the story. These “extra-philosophical” connections are among the reasons why political philosophy underwent considerable development in the course of the middle ages, as religious and political thinking was modified by cultural developments and the stress of events. The focus is on the theologians and philosophers of the Latin Middle Ages, and the general arrangement of this article is chronological.