The symbolic universe of man: history of ideas of Antiquity and the Middle ages

Abstract

The article examines the evolution of ideas about the symbolic nature of political reality within the intellectual traditions of Antiquity and the Middle Ages. It traces the formation of the human symbolic universe as a specific way of interpreting political order, power, and social relations. The study demonstrates that symbols function not only as a means of communication or representation of political authority, but also as an important mechanism for its construction and legitimation. Based on the analysis of the works of ancient and medieval thinkers, the article reconstructs the logic of the development of approaches to symbolic reality—from philosophical reflections on the nature of the sign and symbol to the recognition of their functional role in the political process. It is shown that ancient philosophy laid the foundations of political semiotics. In the works of Plato, Aristotle, and representatives of the Stoic and Neoplatonic traditions, the symbol was considered an instrument for understanding political reality and a means of interpreting the structure of the state, justice, and the nature of power. Particular attention was given to rhetorical mechanisms of political influence, as well as metaphorical and mythological images that shaped symbolic models of political order. The article further demonstrates that in medieval political thought a significant transformation in the understanding of the symbol occurred. The Christian intellectual tradition endowed political symbolism with a sacred dimension, within which symbols served as instruments for the divine legitimation of earthly authority. In the works of Augustine, Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite, Thomas Aquinas, Bonaventure, and Meister Eckhart, symbolic forms acquired the status of instruments for the sacralization of political order and the formation of hierarchical models of power. As a result, the symbol ceased to be merely a reflection of political reality and became an active factor in its construction. It is concluded that the symbolic structures of politics formed within the ancient and medieval intellectual traditions became an important theoretical foundation for contemporary research on political symbolism, political communication, and mechanisms of the legitimation of power. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the role of symbols in modern political processes and confirm their fundamental significance for the analysis of political reality.