6.2 Divine Right
The Intellectual Reformation which accompanied the religious reformation (Protestant and Counter) allowed for philosophy to once again be debated openly. This does not mean that theology was discarded or ignored, but instead that religious men, devout, pious men began discussing the right to rule and the proper form of government. Watch these video clips on some of this political philosophy and then consider the transformation of Europe in the Early Modern Era. As you go through this section, consider the following:
- The 16th Century saw a transformation in the role of the king (or monarch). What was that transformation? Why did it occur?
- What is the “divine right of kings”? How did this particular political theory helped to shape the nature of monarchical rule by the early 17th Century
- As the royal state expanded in terms of its functions, duties and powers in the early 17th Century, there was a corresponding loss of power for a number individuals and entities. Who were the losers in this game of power? How did their grievances provide the groundwork for resistance against the state? In what ways did theology justify the right to resist?
“Divine Right: Thomas More.” Political Philosophy. 2004. Films on Demand. Through “Thomas Hobbes and John Locke.” Political Philosophy. 2004. Films on Demand. 7:13.
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