Eighteen articles, falling into three main groups. Firstly work concerned with the origin and early development of the idea of natural rights, in which it is argued that the idea first grew into existence in the writing of the 12-century canonists.
Secondly, discussion covers aspects of medieval law and political thought including an overview of modern work on late medieval canon law. And finally, the history of papal infallibility is examined with special reference to the tradition of Franciscan ecclesiology and the contributions of John Peter Olivi and William of Ockham.