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Enlightened absolutism (also called benevolent absolutism by modern historians) is a form of absolute monarchy or despotism inspired by the Enlightenment. Enlightened monarchs embrace rationality. Most enlightened monarchs fostered education and allowed religious tolerance, freedom of speech and the right to hold private property. == History == The concept of enlightened absolutism was formally described by the German historian Wilhelm Roscher in 1847〔A. Lentin (ed.), ''Enlightened Absolutism (1760-1790)'', Aveiro, 1985, p. ix.〕 and remains controversial among scholars.〔Charles Ingrao, "The Problem of 'Enlightened Absolutism and the German States," ''Journal of Modern History'' Vol. 58, Supplement: Politics and Society in the Holy Roman Empire, 1500-1806 (Dec., 1986), pp. S161-S180 (in JSTOR )〕 Roscher was presaged by Voltaire, a prominent Enlightenment philosopher who felt enlightened monarchy was the only real way for society to advance. Enlightened absolutists held that royal power emanated not from divine right but from a social contract whereby a despot was entrusted with the power to govern through a social contract in lieu of any other governments. The difference between an absolutist and an ''enlightened'' absolutist is based on a broad analysis of the degree to which they embraced the Age of Enlightenment. For example, although Empress Catherine II of Russia entirely rejected the concept of the social contract, she embraced many ideas of the Enlightenment, being one of the great patron of the arts in Imperial Russia and incorporating many ideas of enlightened philosophers, especially Montesquieu, in her Nakaz, which was intended to revise Russian law. In effect, the monarchs of enlightened absolutism strengthened their authority by improving the lives of their subjects. This philosophy implied that the sovereign knew the interests of his or her subjects better than they themselves did. The monarch taking responsibility for the subjects precluded their political participation. However, historians debate the actual implementation of enlightened absolutism. They distinguish between the "enlightenment" of the ruler personally, versus that of his or her regime. For example, Frederick the Great of Prussia was tutored in the ideas of the French Enlightenment in his youth, and maintained those ideas in his private life as an adult, but in many ways was unable or unwilling to effect enlightened reforms in practice.〔H.M. Scott, ed., ''Enlightened Absolutism: Reform and Reformers in Later Eighteenth-Century Europe'', (University of Michigan Press, 1990)〕 Other rulers like the Marquis of Pombal, prime minister of Portugal, used the ideas and practices of the Enlightenment not only to achieve reforms but also to enhance autocracy, crush opposition, suppress criticism, advance colonial economic exploitation, and consolidate personal control and profit. Enlightened absolutism is the theme of an essay by Frederick the Great defending this system of government.〔Reprinted in Isaac Kramnick, ed. ''The Portable Enlightenment Reader'' (1995) (part;y online )〕〔Reprinted in 〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「enlightened absolutism」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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