D’Argenson márki republikánus monarchiája és eszmetörténeti kontextusa
The Republican Monarchy of the Marquis D’Argenson in the Context of the History of Ideas

Summary/Abstract: The article describes the political philosophical views of a relatively neglected personality from the Enlightenment era, and makes an attempt to place these on the ideological spectrum of the age. The main focus is on the principles the marquis D’Argenson advocated during the debate about the origins of the French monarchy and on his opinion about the “best form of state”. In addition to providing biographical facts (and the resulting political stance), the author points out that the marquis D’Argenson’s involvement in the controversy about the origins of the French monarchy was only an excuse for the elaboration of the idea that the development of the human spirit and the strengthening of royal power are related phenomena. As a result, he regards those sovereigns as good who, sometimes governed by wrong motives, follow a policy of greater freedom and equality. A good king, as the holder of power, always serves public welfare. Still the marquis D’Argenson – who is considered to be one of the first proponents of the “laisser faire” theory, and who believed in the withdrawal of the state and analyzed various forms of polity – was not an adherent of citizen participation. He thinks that participation is viable on a local level only, and for the sole reason of supporting the central government

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