The mystical experience of "conoscenza di sé" in the political doctrine of good government of Catherine of Siena
female mysticism, laity religiosity, self knowledge, good ruler and good government.
This dissertation intends to analyze in what form and at what levels the spirituality of Catherine of Siena was inserted in the religious and intellectual scene of lay religion of the fourteenth century. With this investigation, we aim to analyse the "self-knowledge" - moral reflection of the ones acts and virtues -, proposed by the discursive structure of its her religious experience, as an aspect of the political doctrine for good governance. The time span this research covers the short life trajectory of Catarina from 1347 to 1380 and has as main sources her epistolary and treatise Dialogue of the Divine Providence.