Johannes Althusius
Johannes Althusius | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1563 Diedenshausen, County Sayn-Wittgenstein (Siegen-Wittgenstein) |
| Died | August 12, 1638 Emden |
| Nationality | German–French |
| Occupation(s) | Jurist, Political philosopher |
| Education | |
| Alma mater | University of Basel |
| Philosophical work | |
| School | Calvinist, Ramist logic, Neo-Platonian ideas |
| Institutions | Herborn Academy Calvinist Academy in Burgsteinfurt/Westphalia Nassau College, City of Emden (Syndic) |
| Main interests | Law, Philosophy, Politics, Federalism, Subsidiarity |
| Notable works | Politica Methodice Digesta, Atque Exemplis Sacris et Profanis Illustrata (1603), Dicaeologicae (1617) |
| Notable ideas | Early development of federalism, construction of subsidiarity, natural law as "the will of God for men," sovereignty rests with the community (not the ruler), right to resist tyrannical government. |
Johannes Althusius (1563 – August 12, 1638) was a German–French jurist and Calvinist political philosopher.
He is best known for his 1603 work "Politica Methodice Digesta, Atque Exemplis Sacris et Profanis Illustrata" which revised editions were published in 1610 and 1614. The ideas expressed therein relate to the early development of federalism in the 16th and 17th centuries and the construction of subsidiarity.