"Politica architectonica". Political Aristotelianism in the German Political Debate during the Early Modern Age

Abstract

This article traces the evolution of the German political debate during the Early Modern age, paying attention in particular to the way in which it was produced and transmitted within this university community of discourse. The analysis of the formal aspects and manners in which this debate took form permits to demonstrate that political Aristotelianism was not only a political doctrine, but also and foremost a common code. This code characterized all of the university experiences of the Holy Roman Empire from the end of the xvi century throughout the xvii century. The essential features of this code will be pointed out taking into account the case of Iohannus Arthusius’ political writings, in which it is possible to notice a substantial overlap of the formal and material aspects of his political doctrine.