Marsilius of Padua was an Italian scholar born in 1275 who questioned established authorities and developed radical ideas about the state and church. He argued that the state originates from people coming together to meet common needs, and that legitimate government is based on the consent of the people. He also believed that the church should have no coercive authority over people or the state.
Marsilius of Padua was an Italian scholar born in 1275 who questioned established authorities and developed radical ideas about the state and church. He argued that the state originates from people coming together to meet common needs, and that legitimate government is based on the consent of the people. He also believed that the church should have no coercive authority over people or the state.
Marsilius of Padua was an Italian scholar born in 1275 who questioned established authorities and developed radical ideas about the state and church. He argued that the state originates from people coming together to meet common needs, and that legitimate government is based on the consent of the people. He also believed that the church should have no coercive authority over people or the state.
Political Science, DU, Lecture 20 The Council of Trent held in Santa Maria Maggiore in a painting preserved in the Tridentine Diocesan Museum Life • Born in 1275 and died in 1343 • Studied in Paris and later became a teacher of Paris University. • Paris contributed to the formulation of his ideas. He collected his ideas from pamphleteers. • Was a student of medicine, philosophy, theology and law. • These contributed to his scientific mind. He was secular and critical. • Questioned everything and took nothing in face value. • Was a practicing physician Miniature on the first page of a luxury manuscript of the Defensor pacis (15th century). Marsilius is shown presenting a copy to the Emperor His works • His books are ‘Anti Papacy’ and ‘Defender of Peace’ (1324). Contained fierce hatred against the Pope. Political Ideas: Conception of State • His book ‘Defender of Peace’ has three parts – Aristototalian principle of classification of government, and origin of society and state – Deals with Church, functions of the priest and relations with temporal authoritity. – Contains 40 conclusions • His political thinking starts from analysing political society. State and political society originate in a general recognition of common needs. • Following Aristotle Marsillius also identified family primary stage of the state. Family rose to meet certain limited demands. Marsillius identified this as common need. • Society is the association of several families. Even bigger social associations failed to meet all common needs. • Big associations suffers from coordination and cooperation. • State emerged to fulfill the common needs of cooperation among members. • To meet common necessities people have built up the foundation of the state. Political Ideas: Form of State Classified government in two broad types
• Good form • Diseased form
Monarchy Tyranny Aristocracy Oligarchy Constitutionalism Dictatorship Serves Interest of the Serves Own Interest Subjects Political Ideas: Form of State II • He departed from Aristotle by saying that good government must be based on the consent of the people. • State was concealed as a living organism intended to secure to men guarantees of order and free development of capacities, leading to a general welfare. The right of the state to a life of its own independent of any outside control was the basic principle of Marsilius thought. • State is a natural organism. State has different parts that makes different contributions to the life of the whole. Functions of government • Human being is a perverse creature, self seeking, violent and aggressive. • He is disposed to treat other men as his rival that create an atmosphere of animosity among all men. • Government exists to repress the perverse will of men. • Primary function of state is to force men to do his own work and not to meddle with others. • Another function of government: realization of tranquility. It means peace and security. These are pre- condition of progress and prosperity. Functions of government II • Without cooperation and adjustment general welfare of the community is not possible. • State is required not only to repress and perversity but for organization and cooperation. • Different functions are performed by different classes of people, judge, soldier, farmer, artisan, capitalist, priest etc. • Functions of the above groups need to be coordinated and organised for benefit of the political socidety. • Function of government is to allot each man his proper work and keep them at it. Law • Divine law • Human law – Direct command of God – Command of the whole body of – Is will of God and has no citizens directly arisen from relationship to man made law. deliberation of those – Punishment and award under empowered to make law the law will be received in the – Man made laws are to facilitate next world. cooperation among men and control perverse acts. – Punishment and award are the subjects of this world and God is not connected with this at all. – Expression of common need formulated by reason, promulgated by recognised authority and sanctioned by force. Process of enactment • Legislator makes law • Legistors are people or body of citizens who are directly elected by citizens.
Concept of Popular Sovereignty
• Law will be valid when it receives consent of the people. • Idea of democratic sovereignty was to cut the wing of the Church and to destroy class rule. Church and State • Did not see any necessity of clergy in conduct of the state. • He recognised the role of religion to meet individual’s spiritual need. • Religion plays a role in deterring people from doing bad deeds. That is a positive role of the church. • Emperor cannot interfere with the activities of Church and Church should limit its role for salvation of souls of men. • Church should not have any coercive jurisdiction over men. • Clergy has no rightful claim to immunity. • Neither Pope nor clergy have any right to govern. • Clergy has no rightful title to property. Conclusion • Great political thinker of the Middle Ages • State is based on the consent of its people. • 19th and 20th century conception of democratic sovereignty was developed around this concept. • Was scathing in his criticism of religion and argued for limiting power of the Church.