Plenitudo Potestatis and Its Discontents: Political Theories from Emergence to Rejection

Öz

Starting from the 10th century, the Catholic Church was on its way to becoming the primary player in European politics. Due to the weak status of temporal powers at the time, the Church leveraged its strong position to secure significant political power. The doctrine of plenitudo potestatis is the claim of papal supremacy, asserted by the Church for several hundred years. In this study, the most important intellectual discussion of the High Middle Ages, which was focused on this doctrine, is examined. Focusing primarily on systematic political theories, the study divides them into three categories. First, the most systematic theory of the Church’s claim, as found in John of Salisbury, is presented. Second, the theories of moderate opposition found in Thomas Aquinas, William of Ockham, and Jean of Paris are evaluated. Lastly, two radical political theories, which were completely opposed to the Pope, those of Dante Alighieri and Marsilius of Padua, are focused upon. After analytical and comparative examination of those theories, it has been seen that many staple ideas of modern political theory, such as natural law, popular sovereignty, and separation of church and state, can be traced to this debate, albeit sometimes in rudimentary form.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Plenitudo Potestatis
• John of Salisbury
• William of Ockham
• Jean (John) of Paris
• Dante Alighieri
• Marsilius of Padua

Plenitudo Potestatis ve Karşıtları: Doğuşundan Reddine Siyasal Teoriler

Öz

10. yüzyıldan itibaren Katolik Kilisesi Avrupa siyasetinde birincil oyuncu olma yolunda ilerlemekteydi. O dönemde dünyevi iktidarların zayıf durumu nedeniyle, Kilise güçlü konumunu kullanarak önemli bir siyasi güç elde etmiştir. Plenitudo potestatis doktrini, Kilise tarafından birkaç yüz yıl boyunca ileri sürülen, papalığın üstünlüğü iddiasıdır. Bu çalışmada, bu doktrin çevresinde şekillenen, Yüksek Orta Çağ’ın en önemli entelektüel tartışması üzerinde durulmaktadır. Öncelikle sistematik siyaset teorilerine odaklanan çalışma, söz konusu teorileri üç kategoriye ayırmaktadır. Birinci olarak, Kilise’nin iddiasının en sistematik biçimde ortaya konduğu Salisburyli John’un teorisi ele alınmaktadır. İkinci olarak, Thomas Aquinas, William of Ockham ve Jean of Paris’te görülen ılımlı muhalefet teorileri değerlendirilmektedir. Son olarak ise papalığa bütünüyle karşı çıkan iki radikal siyaset teorisi, Dante Alighieri ve Padovalı Marsilius’un yaklaşımları, inceleme konusu yapılmaktadır. Bu teorilerin analitik ve karşılaştırmalı bir incelemesi sonucunda, doğal hukuk, halk egemenliği ve din ve devletin ayrılığı gibi modern siyaset teorisinin pek çok temel kavramının, kimi zaman ilkel biçimlerde de olsa, bu tartışmaya kadar geri götürülebileceği görülmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Plenitudo Potestatis
• John of Salisbury
• William of Ockham
• Jean (John) of Paris
• Dante Alighieri
• Marsilius of Padua

Kaynakça

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