Marsilius of Padua and the Theory of Popular Sovereignty
Abstract
Marsilius of Padua’s theory of popular sovereignty has been up to the date widely disputed. Despite the restrictiveconnotations of the concept of “weightier part” (valentior pars), the article seeks specially to point out the presence of a line of argumentation in the Defensar pacis, by means of which the universitas civium or valentior pars (insofar as they constitute the source of the legitimate political authority) are both understood in a widely inclusive sense. However, the historical projection and the political application of those theoretic concepts led, ultimately, to an emphasis on the unity and concentration of the legitimated power.Downloads
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