The doctrine of the divine and absolute right of the monarch was refuted by :

Question

Accepted Answer

The doctrine of the divine and absolute right of the monarch was refuted by John Locke, making Option 3 the correct answer. Here is a detailed explanation supporting this:

1. **Why Option 3 is Correct (John Locke):**
   - John Locke was a prominent Enlightenment thinker who challenged the traditional notions of monarchy and governance. In his work "Two Treatises of Government," Locke argued against the divine right of kings, which claimed that monarchs derived their authority directly from God and were accountable only to Him. Instead, Locke proposed the idea of a social contract, where the legitimacy of government is based on the consent of the governed. He emphasized natural rights, including life, liberty, and property, and argued that the role of government is to protect these rights. If a government fails to do so, citizens have the right to overthrow it. This fundamentally opposed the idea of absolute monarchy and divine right, making Locke a key figure in refuting this doctrine.

2. **Why the Other Options are Incorrect:**
   - **Option 1 (Rousseau):** Jean-Jacques Rousseau was also an influential philosopher who discussed the social contract. However, his ideas focused more on the general will and direct democracy rather than specifically refuting the divine right of kings. While he did challenge traditional authority, his primary focus was not on the divine right doctrine.
   
   - **Option 2 (Montesquieu):** Montesquieu is best known for his theory of the separation of powers, which influenced modern democratic governance. While he criticized absolute monarchy, his work did not specifically target the divine right of kings. His contributions were more about structuring government to prevent tyranny rather than directly refuting divine right.
   
   - **Option 4 (Voltaire):** Voltaire was a vocal critic of the Catholic Church and absolute monarchy, advocating for freedom of speech and religion. However, his critiques were more focused on religious intolerance and the abuses of power rather than a direct refutation of the divine right of kings. His approach was more satirical and philosophical rather than a systematic political theory like Locke's.

In conclusion, John Locke's arguments against the divine right of kings and his advocacy for a government based on the consent of the governed make him the correct answer for refuting the doctrine of the divine and absolute right of the monarch.