During the Enlightenment, which concept became central to political philosophy?

During the Enlightenment, which concept became central to political philosophy?

• A. Consent of the governed
• B. Divine right of kings
• C. Mercantilist trade
• D. State religion

Answer: (A)

Consent of the governed is the central idea being tested. During the Enlightenment, thinkers argued that the legitimacy of political authority comes from the people who authorize it, not from a divine right or ancestral decree. This leads to the social contract idea: governments exist to protect people’s natural rights, and their authority rests on the consent of those governed. If rulers violate those rights or fail to secure the common good, political legitimacy can be questioned or dissolved, which helps explain later calls for constitutional limits, representative government, and even revolution. This perspective stands in sharp contrast to the notion of divine right of kings, which grounds authority in God-given monarchic rule. The other options—mercantilist trade and state religion—relate more to economic policy and religious establishment, respectively, rather than the governing philosophy about what legitimizes political power.

Consent of the governed is the central idea being tested. During the Enlightenment, thinkers argued that the legitimacy of political authority comes from the people who authorize it, not from a divine right or ancestral decree. This leads to the social contract idea: governments exist to protect people’s natural rights, and their authority rests on the consent of those governed. If rulers violate those rights or fail to secure the common good, political legitimacy can be questioned or dissolved, which helps explain later calls for constitutional limits, representative government, and even revolution.

This perspective stands in sharp contrast to the notion of divine right of kings, which grounds authority in God-given monarchic rule. The other options—mercantilist trade and state religion—relate more to economic policy and religious establishment, respectively, rather than the governing philosophy about what legitimizes political power.