Natural Liberty and Transference of Sovereignty in William of Ockham

Abstract

The objective of this works in to analyze the conditions of transference of sovereignty and the concept of natural liberty in William of Ockham. Firstly, I briefly explain some antecedents of the conflict of ‘investidures’. Secondly, I will show that Ockham advanced the existence of a set of natural rights hold by the community. This permitted to argue against the Papal interference in the secular sphere, but also to set limits to the emperor himself and grant the individual with natural rights. Thirdly, I explain the differences between ius fori and ius poli and I suggest that Ockham did not provide point of contact between these laws, excepting in the case of liberty. Finally, I revise briefly Ockham’s term translation imperii.