Question

1. What are the “two swords” discussed by John of Salisbury? How did that understanding relate to the role of politics and religion today? What form of government does Dante advocate as the best form?

Answer 1

The John of Salisbury has depicted two swords as two powers of the Pope which are as under:

Temporal power: where pope claims power over the lifespan of man on earth where the appointed rulers represented the pope.

Spiritual Power: on sins committed by man, then repentance or salvation and also on the soul where pope had supreme authority.

It is like state and religion in modern language where religion and state are having separate areas to lay their claim over various areas. The politics and religion does not go hand in hand in fact they work as diverse entities which a time gives rise to rift, communal elements and many odd issues.

The Temporal monarchy government does Dante advocate as the best form.He advocated this form of government because he believed this is the only system that will bring peace into world that in turn will make use of human abilities at its best.The temporal monarchy he believed will be good for the whole world.