HIST108 Lecture Notes - Lecture 20: Robert Filmer, Res Publica, Patriarcha
Early medieval modern states adopted absolutism.
What is the State? In the middle ages a 'state' did not exist. Only Estate.
What is absolutism? What are the main characteristics of absolutist government?
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Might - the state has the monopoly of force.
The state has its own territory and the people who live there.
The state has might, monopolises the legitimacy of violence. Explains why the state has the police
force and army to control its realm while fighting the invaders. No one has might greater than that
of the state.
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Power - The State is a legal system.
Exercises power because it is a legal system and power is conferred to them by the law. They are
interconnected. Principal role to guard the law and administer the law.
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Authority - The State needs justification that cannot be provided by mere force or power.
Induces obedience from those who live in the state. Freely submit to the state and agree with each
other that they should do so. Not just force or power but they have the means to justify it
The Notion of the State
Commonwealth res publica vs the state
1.
Rejection of the universal rulership of the empire = emergence of 'independent associations not
recognising any superior' The king is emperor within his realm. Meaning the rejection of universal
rulership in the empire. As far as the realm is concerned the king is superior. 14th C
2.
The supreme authority within a political society that recognises no rivals as a law-making power
As a law making power. The secular powers and the church had the power to make law. Canon law
was applied to everyone and everywhere. Including kings and peasants. From the late middle ages
the church authority on public issues started to crumble. = many argued that the church should be
subject to the state/ secular powers. Church could no longer claim as a rival authority as a law
making power.
3.
The purpose of the political society: peace, not a particular faith
Many intellectuals claimed to hold that the state only existed to maintain peace and order. No
religious aims to achieve. Divorce the idea to maintain a religious government. Not to say religion
was completely divorced from politics in this period. The notion of absolute authority believes that
the authority is placed on the superior authority directly from God. The state becomes a holy being
in itself due to holy sanction.
The idea of absolutism
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Absolute monarch is accountable to God alone for his action; his commands ought to be obeyed by
his subjects provided they do not contradict divine law or natural law
Not bound by human law. Above human law. Therefore, absolute monarch can command anything
as long as it does not contradict the divine/natural law. Meaning that their authority is not
completely arbitrary. Church can claim absolute power through the monarch. Only through the
bible.
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Kingship was hereditary
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Louis XVI, 'L' etar,c' ast moi' - the state is me
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The 'head' of the body politic
The king embodies the state. The king has two bodies. The physical mortal one and the mystical
immortal body. The mystical body is like the kings office which is impersonal. Handed down to the
eldest son or eligible heir. Lasts eternally. As long as the king is there the state is there. Only if the
head is there the body functions and if the king is there the state functions
Absolutism
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Absolutism glorifies and maximises the royal power- no right of resistance
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With absolutism no legitimate resistance is possible unlike feudalism. Legitimised by the idea that
the leader gets the direct authority sent down from God. Theological.
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Jacques Benigne Bossuet (1627- 1704) Politics Drawn from Holy Scripture
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The divine right of Kings.
The making of the idea of the state
The divine right of Kings
Sir Robert Filmer (1688-1653)
1.
There is no form of monarchy only
2.
There is no monarchy, but paternal
3.
There is no paternal monarchy but absolute
4.
There is no such thing as an aristocracy or democracy
5.
There is no such form of government as a tyranny
6.
The people are not born free by nature
Patriarcha or the Natural power of Kings (1680)
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Kingship: derived from authority that God gave to Adam - parochialism
The divine right of Kings
More interested in historical origin of political power. Believed it originated in
one man Adam. All descended from one single man. By creating him first God
gave him the power. And all those who descended from him get God given
authority . Meant that power from an absolute monarch was supreme.
Absolutism and The Making of the Modern State.
Lecture 20: HIST108
Tuesday, 24 September 2019
10:09 AM
HIST108 Page 1
Document Summary
Absolutism and the making of the modern state. In the middle ages a "state" did not exist. Might - the state has the monopoly of force. The state has its own territory and the people who live there. The state has might, monopolises the legitimacy of violence. Explains why the state has the police force and army to control its realm while fighting the invaders. No one has might greater than that of the state. Power - the state is a legal system. Exercises power because it is a legal system and power is conferred to them by the law. Principal role to guard the law and administer the law. Authority - the state needs justification that cannot be provided by mere force or power. Induces obedience from those who live in the state. Freely submit to the state and agree with each other that they should do so.
