Ockham’s Philosophy: Civil vs. Ecclesiastical Power
Text Commentary: Ockham
Historical Context
William of Ockham was a 14th-century English philosopher and Franciscan friar. He was a prominent critic of scholastic philosophy and, contrary to Thomas Aquinas, advocated for a strong separation between reason and faith. Ockham was involved in several controversies, including those concerning papal power and the Church’s evangelical poverty.
Central Theme
The Pope’s power is not absolute, as emperors and kings possess their own legitimate authority.
Key Ideas
The power granted by Christ to the Popes is not absolute. It must respect the legitimate rights of emperors and kings, provided those rights do not contradict God’s law. These rights predate the advent of Christ and the institution of the papacy. Therefore, the Pope cannot alter these rights, as they fall outside his jurisdiction.
Relationship Between Ideas
The text limits the Pope’s power, asserting it should remain separate from civil power, unless civil power contradicts God’s law. Emperors and kings existed, with legitimate authority, before the papacy. Consequently, the Pope cannot interfere with the rights of civil rulers, as they are outside his jurisdiction. Any papal sentence attempting to do so is void.
Explanation of Ideas
The central theme of Ockham’s political work is the relationship between civil and ecclesiastical power within Christianity. According to the text, the Pope should not interfere with civil power. The authority Christ gave to St. Peter and his successors (the Popes) excludes the legitimate rights of emperors and kings, as long as these do not oppose morality or Gospel law. This implies that papal power is spiritual and should not meddle in earthly affairs. Political governance is the responsibility of each community’s civil authority, unless it opposes Christ’s law, in which case the Pope can legitimately intervene.
The text demonstrates the legitimacy of civil power through a historical fact: emperors and kings existed before the papal institution was established. The Roman Empire was founded before Christ’s coming, and both He and His apostles respected imperial power, as evidenced by the Gospel phrase, “Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” Thus, history and Scripture demonstrate the independence of civil power from ecclesiastical power. Therefore, the Pope cannot infringe upon the rights of kings and emperors. If he does, his dictates are invalid and illegitimate, as he is acting outside his jurisdiction.
This passage clearly shows Ockham’s criticism of the Pope’s absolute power. He defended the legitimacy of Emperor Louis of Bavaria against Pope John XXII. Ockham also sought to prevent Church corruption by ensuring that the hierarchy focused solely on spiritual matters.
Contemporary Relevance
Ockham’s philosophy was not only one of the most important of his century but also one of the most influential. He anticipated empiricism, paving the way for authors like Hobbes, Locke, and Hume. His sophisticated theory of language finds echoes in modern authors like Russell. The resurgence of interest in Ockham’s thought is partly due to the prominence of the philosophy of language in the last century. Whether considering the relationship between reason and faith or the more practical aspects of state and church, we must recognize Ockham’s philosophical significance and his potential contributions to understanding contemporary societal processes and problems.