Preview

Uchenye Zapiski Kazanskogo Universiteta Seriya Gumanitarnye Nauki

Advanced search

Interpretation of Law in the Political and Legal Thought of Western Europe during the 12th–13th Centuries

https://doi.org/10.26907/2541-7738.2024.6.19-28

Abstract

This article explores the views of two outstanding medieval thinkers, John of Salisbury and Thomas Aquinas, on law (its types, functions, and purpose). Their intellectual reflections were based on the theoretical political knowledge and historical context of the time and played a key role in the development of “scientia politica” during the 12th–13th centuries. Both thinkers distinguished between Divine, natural, and human (civil) laws, emphasizing their interconnectedness and interdependence within society. The obtained results show that they had a Christian worldview, where the king, guided by the three laws and the principles of justice, was destined to lead his subjects toward the “common good”, ensuring their freedom and happiness.

About the Author

A. K. Gladkov
Institute of World History, Russian Academy of Sciences
Russian Federation

Moscow, 119334



References

1. Gladkov A.K. “Aequitas servus est princeps”: Antique law categories in English political thought of the 12th century. Vestnik NGU. Seriya: Istoriya, Filologiya, 2018, vol. 17, no. 1, pp. 9–16. https://doi.org/10.25205/1818-7919-2018-17-1-9-16. (In Russian)

2. Gladkov A.K. “Neque declinet in partem dextram vel sinistram”: Duality of power in 12th century English political thought. Voprosy Istorii, 2020, no. 12 (3), pp. 182–190. https://doi.org/10.31166/VoprosyIstorii202012Statyi66. (In Russian)

3. Gladkov A.K. “Rex est instrumentum legis”: Some features of Henry de Bracton’s political theory. In: Gladkov A.K., Uvarov P.Yu. (Eds.) “Flores historiarum”: sbornik v chest’ M.V. Vinokurovoi [“Flores Historiarum”: A Collection of Articles in Honor of M.V. Vinokurova]. Moscow, St. Petersburg, Tsentr Gumanit. Initsiativ, 2024, pp. 297–307. (In Russian)

4. Liebeschütz H. Medieval Humanism in Life and Writings of John of Salisbury. Ser.: Studies of the Warburg Institute. Vol. 17. London, Warburg Inst., Univ. of London, 1950. 126 p.

5. Gladkov A.K. “To kill a tyrant is not only legitimate, but fair”: The idea of unjust authority in Policraticus by John of Salisbury. In: Uvarov P.Yu. (Ed.) Srednie veka. Issledovaniya po istorii Srednevekov’ya i rannego Novogo vremeni [The Middle Ages: Studies in Medieval and Early Modern History]. Moscow, Nauka, 2008, vol. 69 (3), pp. 81–96. (In Russian)

6. Gladkov A.K. The union of virtues, wise king and idea of political community in Policraticus by John of Salisbury. Vestnik Kostromskogo Gosudarstvennogo Universiteta imeni N.A. Nekrasova, 2023, vol. 29, no. 4, pp. 22–25. https://doi.org/34216/1998-0817-2023-29-4-22-25. (In Russian)

7. Gladkov A.K. “Venator Dei”, Centaur and the lost conscience: About one aspect of medieval political thinking. Voprosy Istorii, 2021, no. 12 (2), pp. 71–82. https://doi.org/10.31166/VoprosyIstorii202112Statyi61. (In Russian)

8. Dyson R.W. Normative Theories of Society and Government in Five Medieval Thinkers: St. Augustine, John of Salisbury, Giles of Rome, St. Thomas Aquinas, and Marsilius of Padua. Ser.: Mediaeval Studies. Vol. 21. Lewiston, ME, Edwin Mellen Press, 2003. 314 p.

9. The Social and Political Ideas of Some Great Mediaeval Thinkers: A Series of Lectures Delivered at King’s College University of London. Hearnshaw F.J.C. (Ed.). New York, NY, Henry Holt & Co, 1923. 223 p.

10. Kempshall M.S. The Common Good in Late Medieval Political Thought. Oxford, Oxford Univ. Press, 1999. x, 401 p. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198207160.001.0001.

11. Dyson R.W. Natural Law and Political Realism in History of Political Thought. Vol. I: From the Sophists to Machiavelli. Ser.: Major Concepts in Politics and Political Theory. Vol. 25. New York, NY, Peter Lang Publ., 2005. xiv, 344 p.

12. Bede J. Social Theories of the Middle Ages, 1200–1500. London, Frank Cass & Co, 1968. ix, 280 p.


Review

For citations:


Gladkov A.K. Interpretation of Law in the Political and Legal Thought of Western Europe during the 12th–13th Centuries. Uchenye Zapiski Kazanskogo Universiteta Seriya Gumanitarnye Nauki. 2024;166(6):19-28. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.26907/2541-7738.2024.6.19-28

Views: 64


Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.


ISSN 2541-7738 (Print)
ISSN 2500-2171 (Online)