O conceito de Optimus Homo no Monarchia de Dante Alighieri

Abstract

This research aims to present the political thinking of Dante Alighieri. It is quite common of us to think that the Florentine poet has only addressed the subjects related to poetry. However, it is necessary to point out that, even prior to becoming a poet, Dante Alighieri is a political philosopher of the Middle Ages. Living within an environment of troubled relations of power, especially between the Church and the Empire, Dante attempts to rationally present theses to solve the problem about who should govern in order to avoid the clash between powers in the Western Christianity. Through this perspective, the sommo poeta formulates a model of government focused on the distinction between powers: spiritual power and temporal power. Furthermore, it focuses on the individuals and in their political engagement the complete fulfillment of mankind, thus devising the concept of optimus homo. Undoubtedly a better man will be the one who participates in the political community, the one who gets involved in the so-called ethical and political issues and who respects the State and the Law