Prominent figures from the Age of Absolutism and the Age of Enlightenment

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Prominent figures from the Age of Absolutism and
the Age of Enlightenment
Thomas Hobbes

• Sovereignty, the power and right to rule, resides
  exclusively with the King and not the nobles nor
  any assembly.
• -Represents a change from medieval reality.
• -The importance of the idea of Divine-Right
  monarchy.
• Sovereignty of the people, the principles of
  equality and the general will.

John Locke
Frederick the Great of Prussia
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
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Thomas Hobbes Leviathan (1651)
Thomas Hobbes saw society as a social contract
among selfish, warring individuals. These
individuals came into agreement as members of
society for a common benefit. One example of this
kind of compromise is the sacrificing of
individual freedom for state protection. Humans,
according to Hobbes were moved by necessity and
fear and their chaotic reality required an
absolute ruler. Finally, once the sovereign had
the power, it was irrevocable and supreme over
all.
1588-1679

• if any two men desire the same thing, which
  nevertheless they cannot both enjoy, they become
  enemiesand endeavour to destroy or subdue one
  another.
• The mutual transferring of right to a governing
  body is that which men call contract.
• And because the condition of man, as has been
  declared before, is a state of war of everyone
  against everyone it follows that in such a
  condition, every man has the right to everything

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John Locke Of Civil Government (1681)
John Locke, an Englishman, believed that
government had neither the right nor the duty to
exercise power over its citizens. He believed
that people had natural rights, such as life
liberty and property, that could not be taken
away by the government. John Locke justified
revolutions against the state when these rights
were threatened. Locke described human beings as
being natural free agents in agreement, or
contract with one another in order to live
peaceful, orderly and civil lives.
1632-1704
Having great power and richescan be no excuse
for or reason for plunder and oppression Exceed
ing the bounds of authority is no more a right in
a great man like a king or a noble than in a
petty officer, no more justifiable in a king than
a constable and is so much the worse in him
because he has more trust put in him Someone
trusted with authority is supposed, from the
advantages of his education, work and advisers,
to be more knowing in matters of right and wrong.
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Jean-Jacques Rousseau The Social Contract (1762)
Rousseau believed that the state was dominated by
the rich and the powerful. Those with wealth and
power pursued their own interests while the weak
were oppressed and suffered miserably. Rousseau
wanted the state to be governed according to the
general will, a plainly visible truth that
expressed what was best for the community.

1712-1778
As the citizens, by the social contract, are all
equal, all can prescribe what all should do, but
no one has a right to demand that another shall
do what he does not do himself. As soon as
public service ceases to be the chief business of
the citizens, and they would rather serve with
their money than with their persons, the State is
not far from its fall. Were there a people of
gods, their government would be democratic. So
perfect a government is not for men.
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Enlightenment philosophers shared a common ideal
known as enlightened despotism, meaning a strong
ruler who implements reforms and removes
obstacles to freedom. In his work entitled Essay
on Forms of Government (1777), Frederick defends
absolutism.
Frederick the Great Essay on Forms of
Government (1777)
1712-1786

• The prince is to the nation he governs what the
  head is to the man it is his duty to see, think
  and act for the whole community, that he may
  procure it every advantage of which it is
  capableHe ought to procure exact and
  circumstantial information of the strengths and
  weaknesses of his country as well relative to
  pecuniary1 resources as to population, finance,
  trade, laws, and the genius of the nation he is
  appointed to govern.

1 pecuniary - of, relating to, or consisting of
money.