History of Political Thought

Key elements of Jean Gerson's account of jus show the distance between premodern and modern accounts of rights. The distinction between 'subjective' and 'objective' right has been overemphasized. Elements of Scotistic moral theology lie in the background of Gerson's emphasis on jus as a faculty. Gerson's own account of the relationship between jus and politics has been overlooked. His discussions of jus in the conciliar context are mixed, opposing the popes' claims of jura, while outlining office-specific, not 'natural' jura. It can now be said that Gerson, once a clear example of medieval–modern continuity, illustrates the danger of 'continuity' approaches.