Between divine right monarchy and natural freedom of mankind

Title: Between divine right monarchy and natural freedom of mankind
Variant title:
  • Mezi monarchií založenou na božím právu a přirozenou svobodou lidstva
Source document: Studia philosophica. 2022, vol. 69, iss. 2, pp. 27-44
Extent
27-44
  • ISSN
    1803-7445 (print)
    2336-453X (online)
Type: Article
Language
 

Notice: These citations are automatically created and might not follow citation rules properly.

Abstract(s)
The paper examines Robert Filmer's arguments in defence of the divine right of kings in Patriarcha, or The Natural Power of Kings. Filmer argues that human beings are not born free by nature and, as a result, are expected to obey the kings/monarchs absolutely without questioning, due to the arbitrary power and the divine right bestowed upon the kings. This position defended by Filmer is antithetical to the notion of natural freedom of mankind defended by John Locke and other social contract theorists. Contrary to Filmer's view, this paper suggests that Filmer exaggerated the power of kings. In this paper, I wish to critically examine Filmer's arguments with which he supported his claim. The paper argues against Filmer's divine right monarchy for the following reasons: (i) it lacks rational justification, (ii) it was founded on misinterpretation of the scriptures, and (iii) it fails to address the atheists' question. In the final analysis, the paper concludes with the argument that the question of mutual exclusivity of the concepts in the discussion rests upon manifest misinterpretations of divine right and the natural freedom of mankind.
Článek se zabývá argumenty Roberta Filmera na obranu božského práva králů v knize Patriarcha aneb Přirozená moc králů. Filmer tvrdí, že lidé se nerodí přirozeně svobodní, a proto se od nich očekává, že budou krále poslouchat bez jakýchkoli výhrad z toho důvodu, že králům byly propůjčeny moc a božské právo. Tento Filmerem obhajovaný postoj je v rozporu s pojetím přirozené svobody člověka, kterou hájil John Locke a další teoretici společenské smlouvy. Tento článek naznačuje, že Filmer moc králů přeceňuje. V článku chci kriticky prozkoumat Filmerovy argumenty, jimiž své tvrzení podporoval. Příspěvek polemizuje s Filmerovou tezí o božském právu monarchie z následujících důvodů: (i) teze postrádá racionální zdůvodnění, (ii) byla založena na nesprávném výkladu Písma a (iii) neřeší otázku ateistů. V závěru článek předkládá argument, že otázka vzájemné výlučnosti diskutovaných pojmů spočívá na zjevně nesprávné interpretaci božského práva a přirozené svobody člověka.
References
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