The Prominent Doctrinarian of the Conception of Secular Society and Secular State in the Middle Ages: Marsilius of Padua

Abstract

This article examines the general political philosophy of Marsilius of Padua, who is considered one of the pioneers and the founders of philosophy of modern state and society in the Middle Ages, and the relationship he established between religion and politics within this philosophy. It can be said that Marsilius' philosophy is basically based on two main claims. The first of these is the state/civitas is not natural/obligatory or religious/divine, as it was argued in the Ancient times and the Middle Ages, but human and secular. It's a humanitarian structure that people create to meet their needs and achieve a better life, and whose ultimate goal is to serve the peace and well-being of people. The second is that religious power must be subordinated to political power in order to achive this goal. In this article by discussing Marsilius' conception of civitates and the relationship between religion and politics in the conception, it will be investigated how he laid the foundations of his conception of secular state and secular worldview on the one hand and how he influenced the thought of the philosophers who followed him on the other.