Amongst Medievalists, Kantorowicz is known for his book on ‘The King’s Two Bodies. A Study in Medieval Political Theology’. But what is medieval political theology? And how and why should we take note of this in the 21st century.
On Political Theology: The Hidden Dialogue between C. Schmitt and Ernst H. Kantorowicz in The King’s Two Bodies
Montserrat Herrero
In: History of European Ideas. Published online: 28 Sep 2015
DOI:10.1080/01916599.2015.1077148
ABSTRACT:
In recent years, Ernst H. Kantorowicz’s work The King’s Two Bodies (1957) has been the object of both historical and philosophical research. Kantorowicz decided to subtitle his book ‘A Study in Medieval Political Theology’, but few scholars have actually recognised his work as research in ‘political theology’. The aim of this article, then, is to uncover the sense(s) in which his book might be considered a work of ‘political theology’, especially in the sense coined by Carl Schmitt in 1922. Such a discussion ultimately aims to contribute to the foundation of political-theology research, a subject that has been widespread among European intellectuals in the twentieth century and which continues to be a focus of interest. This article argues that Kantorowicz’s book can be interpreted as a practice of—and also an enriching addition to—Schmitt’s thesis on political theology, even if it does not mention Schmitt’s name. Such a conclusion is only possible by accepting that there was a heated dialogue between Kantorowicz and Schmitt through Erik Peterson’s work. The article further discusses its approach with other scholars that, even though they are based on similar hypotheses, make different conclusions.
For achieving this goal, this article offers a four-step argument. First of all, the article briefly exposes the content and extent of Carl Schmitt’s political theology. Second, it focuses on Peterson’s criticism of political theology. Third, the article shows Kantorowicz’s practice of the political-theology method in The King’s Two Bodies. And lastly, it discusses Schmitt’s controversial legacy in Kantorowicz through Erik Peterson’s criticism and ends with some conclusions relevant for the theory and practice of political theology.
Ernst Hartwig Kantorowicz (1895 – 1963) was a German-American historian of medieval political and intellectual history and art, known for his 1927 book about the ‘Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II’, and The King’s Two Bodies’ (1957). His life was marked by his “double identitiesy” as a right-winged German and (possibly gay) Jew. He ended his career at Princeton, but was during his lifetime and especially later accused of having had philosophical sympathies with nazism. Carl Schmitt (1888-1985) was a German jurist and political theorist. Schmitt wrote extensively about the effective wielding of political power. His work has been a major influence on subsequent political theory, legal theory, continental philosophy and political theology. Erik Peterson (1890-1960) was a German church historian and theologian, who argued against the political theories of Carl Schmitt.
To tackle the medieval historical work of Kantorowicz demands a exploration of the concept of “Political Theology” and its political ramifications in the 20th and 21st centuries. This article is a good place to start.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Montserrat Herrero, Universidad de Navarra, Filosofía, Biblioteca de Humanidades, Campus Universitario, Pamplona, 31009 Spain. At the University a special centre is dedicated to explore the concept of Political Theology, both in its medieval and modern contexts. She recently published The Political Discourse of Carl Schmitt. A Mystic of Order