Description:
The Dialogus became an important reference text during the last two centuries of the Middle Ages, especially in the time of troubles associated with the Great Schism. It was printed twice in the later 15th century. One of its most elegant manuscripts was a text belonging to Pope Sixtus IV. Its ideal of an enlightened papacy ("monarchia de concilio peritorum") did not survive the Reformation, though many of its principles percolated into the writings of political philosophers, contributing along with other sources to the rise of constitutional liberalism and responsible government. This final book of Dialogus, Part I is not only a monument celebrating the possible emergence of cooperative political societies from the rubble of autocracies, but also an indication that Ockham's political orientation was essentially pragmatic.
Review Quotes:
The publication of George Knysh's edition of the two final volumes of Ockham's major work on political philosophy marks the end of a long wait among medievalists, historians of philosophy, and historians of political and religious thought. [...] The importance of these publications is difficult to overstate. The work was significant at the time, and having easy access to a reliable edition will not only contribute to our understanding of late medieval political and religious debates but also allow us to reflect on more universal and timeless questions. Until now, only specialists having the necessary skills and patience for reading manuscripts (or somewhat easier Renaissance editions) have been able to study Ockham's work as a whole, but now it is available to a broader readership.
--Juhana Toivanen