The Collected Works of Eric Voegelin - 21: History of Political Ideas, Volume 3

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In "The Later Middle Ages," the third volume of his monumental "History of Political Ideas," Eric Voegelin delves into a pivotal era in political thought, illuminating key figures of the high Middle Ages. He explores the historical momentum that shaped the modern world through the core symbols of medieval civilization, centered on the aspiration for the "sacrum imperium," an order that unites the transcendent and immanent, ecclesiastical and political, divine and human. This period is marked by a "civilizational schism," where both the reality and aspiration for the "sacrum imperium" faded, leading to the dissolution of faith and reason. Voegelin's unique perspective highlights figures like William of Ockham, Dante, Giles of Rome, and Marsilius of Padua, who sought personal authority and intellectual analysis to understand the loss of this ideal. He also investigates lesser-studied aspects of the era, such as the mysticism in "Piers Plowman" and Cola di Rienzo's apocalyptic revolt, which reflect reactions to societal disintegration. However, Voegelin also identifies the emergence of the constitutional political tradition as a significant positive development, particularly in distinguishing between representative institutions and communal consciousness. His insights into the English political pattern and the German imperial zone culminate in a compelling analysis of Nicholas of Cusa, who envisioned the unity of mankind beyond f