By 1215, English monarchs and barons had instituted significant reforms that secularized and rationalized England's political and legal systems, and limited—in theory—the power of the king.  What happened to these reforms? Were they adhered to and enhanced, or were they ignored and allowed to decay?  What influence, if any, did the political ideas of the 13th century's greatest thinker, Thomas Aquinas, have on England's political system?

This course examines England's history from the aftermath of Magna Charta to the development of the bicameral parliament shortly before the beginning of the Hundred Years' War.  It examines the fate of good political ideas unsupported by consistent, explicit philosophic principles.

Part 1 was delivered at OCON 2005,  Part 3 was delivered at OCON 2007, Part 4 was delivered at OCON 2012, and Part 5 was delivered at OCON 2013