Ockham’s philosophical contribution to the formation of the concept of public reason

Abstract

In this essay, the author interprets William of Ockham’s philosophical medieval work A Short Discourse on the Tyrannical Government. Several arguments are offered here to justify a number of theses: the first one is to dismount the prejudice that assumes that modern illustration abandoned or cancelled the contents and the hermeneutical procedures of medieval thought. The second is to affirm that the philosophical roots of certain key issues pertaining to the political and moral thought of modern liberalism are found in the cited work. The third thesis aims at showing the way Ockham’s political thought anticipates or designs the essential features of the modern concept of public opinion or public reason so in tune nowadays with the theory and philosophy of politics. On the explanation of these three issues, a reflection on the role of the philosopher as mediator/ interpreter is articulated. Such mediation deals with formal power as well as the informal power of the common interests of individuals - the two elements central political power hinges on.