In philosophy, the term absolutism is a contrast to relativism in any of its senses.
In its political sense, a description (more frequently than justification) of government without constitutional restrictions. The authority to govern cannot be qualified or restricted, because if it is, whatever restricts it is itself the final power.
Historically, one form it has taken has been the doctrine of the ‘divine right of Kings’, which was popular in Stuart England.
Though this doctrine was expressed in the course of 16th and 17th century debates over sovereignty, the term absolutism became current only in the 19th century to describe regimes having either such a character or such an aspiration.
Notable supporters of political absolutism have included Friedrich Hegel and Benito Mussolini.
Source: David Miller et al, eds The Blackwell Encyclopaedia of Political Thought (Oxford, 1987).
Table of Contents
- 1 Related Products
- 1.1 French Absolutism - 1589 - 1715
- 1.2 Famous People of the World - Famous Kings & Queens - Queen Elizabeth I
- 1.3 The Hellenistic World
- 1.4 Louis XIV and Absolutism: A Brief Study with Documents (The Bedford Series in History and Culture)
- 1.5 Crisis, Absolutism, Revolution: Europe and the World, 1648-1789, 3rd Edition
- 1.6 Absolutism
- 1.7 The Crash of Absolutism
- 1.8 Absolutismus I / Absolutism I, 1 DVD
- 1.9 Drop the Rock: Removing Character Defects - Steps Six and Seven
- 1.10 Understanding Western Society, Volume 2: From the Age of Exploration to the Present: A Brief History: From Absolutism to Present
- 1.11 Related:
- 2 Videos
- 3 Related Products
- 3.1 French Absolutism - 1589 - 1715
- 3.2 Famous People of the World - Famous Kings & Queens - Queen Elizabeth I
- 3.3 The Hellenistic World
- 3.4 Louis XIV and Absolutism: A Brief Study with Documents (The Bedford Series in History and Culture)
- 3.5 Crisis, Absolutism, Revolution: Europe and the World, 1648-1789, 3rd Edition
- 3.6 Absolutism
- 3.7 The Crash of Absolutism
- 3.8 Absolutismus I / Absolutism I, 1 DVD
- 3.9 Drop the Rock: Removing Character Defects - Steps Six and Seven
- 3.10 Understanding Western Society, Volume 2: From the Age of Exploration to the Present: A Brief History: From Absolutism to Present
French Absolutism - 1589 - 1715
- Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
- Robert Bucholz (Writer) - The Great Courses (Producer)
- English (Playback Language)
- English (Subtitle)
Famous People of the World - Famous Kings & Queens - Queen Elizabeth I
- Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
- Konovalova Irina (Director)
- English (Playback Language)
- English (Subtitle)
The Hellenistic World
- Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
- The Great Courses (Producer)
- English (Playback Language)
- English (Subtitle)
Louis XIV and Absolutism: A Brief Study with Documents (The Bedford Series in History and Culture)
- Beik, William (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 272 Pages - 01/20/2000 (Publication Date) - Bedford/St. Martin's (Publisher)
Crisis, Absolutism, Revolution: Europe and the World, 1648-1789, 3rd Edition
- Birn, Raymond (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 594 Pages - 08/01/2005 (Publication Date) - University of Toronto Press, Higher Education Division (Publisher)
The Crash of Absolutism
- Audio CD – Audiobook
- CD Baby (Publisher)
Absolutismus I / Absolutism I, 1 DVD
- English (Publication Language)
Drop the Rock: Removing Character Defects - Steps Six and Seven
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- P., Bill (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 126 Pages - 06/03/2009 (Publication Date) - Hazelden Publishing (Publisher)
Understanding Western Society, Volume 2: From the Age of Exploration to the Present: A Brief History: From Absolutism to Present
- McKay, John P. (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 648 Pages - 07/29/2011 (Publication Date) - Bedford/St. Martin's (Publisher)
Videos
French Absolutism - 1589 - 1715
- Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
- Robert Bucholz (Writer) - The Great Courses (Producer)
- English (Playback Language)
- English (Subtitle)
Famous People of the World - Famous Kings & Queens - Queen Elizabeth I
- Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
- Konovalova Irina (Director)
- English (Playback Language)
- English (Subtitle)
The Hellenistic World
- Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
- The Great Courses (Producer)
- English (Playback Language)
- English (Subtitle)
Louis XIV and Absolutism: A Brief Study with Documents (The Bedford Series in History and Culture)
- Beik, William (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 272 Pages - 01/20/2000 (Publication Date) - Bedford/St. Martin's (Publisher)
Crisis, Absolutism, Revolution: Europe and the World, 1648-1789, 3rd Edition
- Birn, Raymond (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 594 Pages - 08/01/2005 (Publication Date) - University of Toronto Press, Higher Education Division (Publisher)
The Crash of Absolutism
- Audio CD – Audiobook
- CD Baby (Publisher)
Absolutismus I / Absolutism I, 1 DVD
- English (Publication Language)
Drop the Rock: Removing Character Defects - Steps Six and Seven
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- P., Bill (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 126 Pages - 06/03/2009 (Publication Date) - Hazelden Publishing (Publisher)
Understanding Western Society, Volume 2: From the Age of Exploration to the Present: A Brief History: From Absolutism to Present
- McKay, John P. (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 648 Pages - 07/29/2011 (Publication Date) - Bedford/St. Martin's (Publisher)
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