Dante Alighieri · Philosophy

The Two Suns: Empire and Church

Dante&rsquo;s political philosophy from <em>De Monarchia</em>: that humanity needs both a universal empire and a church, each deriving its authority directly from God and sovereign in its own sphere - the emperor securing earthly peace and happiness, the pope leading souls to eternal life. It is a bold case against the papacy&rsquo;s claim to temporal power.

What you'll be able to recall

You learned that in De Monarchia Dante argued for a single universal empire to secure earthly peace and for the church to lead souls to Heaven, with both powers deriving directly from God and each supreme in its own domain - the &lsquo;two suns,&rsquo; against the papal claim to temporal supremacy. Explain the argumen…

Leads to Aristotle.

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