TRHS AP Euro

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Frederick the Great's Political Testament

This document is the one I gave you in class.

What is Frederick's overall view of politics? What about the monarchy in general? What is his justification for absolute monarchy?

Due: MIDNIGHT, Tuesday, Oct. 17

6 Comments:

  • Frederick the Great of Prussia approaches politics not only as the general ilk of government and social hierarchy, but as a code of conduct that, one way or another, seeps into the foundations of a nation. He views politics as having the primary function of a tool to unite the efforts of the varied people that live under his rule toward bettering the country as a whole.
    Keeping with this desire for a united effort, he views monarchy as an institution that should be headed by a capable, driven, hardworking individual that can operate largely alone. He goes on to state that if a ruler designates and follows his own system, one gains valuable foresight and political mobility. For what does one know better than the very device one has assembled as a creature of one's mind. Here in lies his justification for absolutism. He believes that for the goals of the whole to be achieved the people must having a strong centralizing force that must be found in the monarch. To divide power into various components would open the road to objections and therefore slow down the strengthening and furthering of the country's power. As far as religions are concerned, he recognizes them as a great source of unity, identification, and importance to the masses, but generally regards them as veils the moderately intelligent can see straight through.

    By Blogger laura, at Tuesday, October 17, 2006 7:42:00 PM  

  • Fredrick considers politics to be more of what I'd consider recent government to be like. He explains that in ruling, one must understand his people before one decides on how to treat them; basically stating that if the people are inclined to revolt, the government should be inclined to repress the people, and if the state as a government is prosperous, the people will then be prosperous.
    Fredrick thought highly of the nobility, it seemed, which is a different view for a monarch to have during these times. Fredrick considered the monarch to be the "first servant of the state" in that he wasn't to be lazy and indulgent, but he was to be deserving of the money he retains due to being the monarch.
    It's confusing to understand whether Fredrick was a politique or an absolutist. Normally, a polotique, being acceptant of religions and other controversy which Fredrick seemed to be from this document, wouldn't rule in an absolutist monarchy, which would be more like one people under one ruler with a strict general code for everything. Fredrick says that in a rule where all parts of government are linked and checked by each other, one decision cannot be made due to the fact that there are too many minds in contribution. In a government where one person is ruler, one person, one mind, makes the decisions and one end can come.

    By Blogger TeganLove, at Tuesday, October 17, 2006 8:45:00 PM  

  • I read this document with a more or less open and respectful mindset until I came upon Fred's last paragraph, in which the blasted atheist disregards all religions as "superstitious systems." It is with red at the corner of my eyes that I now write.
    Frederick places the unity and advancement of the state above any and all other concerns. He stresses unity in the people- by which he means solely the nobles. He also stresses the necessity of an underlying philosophy throughout the people which complements the government- in this case the militaristic set-up of Prussian life.
    That being said, Frederick views politics as a constant struggle of identifying goals and using all means necessary to achieve them. The person he feels should identify goals is a monarch. He draws his support for absolute monarchy not from religion (which he callously rejects) but to secular examples of scientific research.
    One could call him a politique- since he believes in no religion, no religion will hinder him. He stresses, however, that his subjects be allowed to worship as they please. I despise this stand- not for the end, which is good (though rare) but for the means- utter indifference and scornful superiority.
    Frederick clearly writes from the point of view of a whealthy ruler. He offers no consideration, indeed never even mentions any social classes below that of a noble. He regards the nobility as the only real factor in popular sovereignty- though history has since shown quite the opposite.
    I see a bit of Machiavelli's spirit in this document- a bit of his ruthlessness.
    I end with this. Frederick was not an idiot- he had a clearly defined and workable philosophy with some workable ideas. Yet Prussia has not survived today. His arrogance was unfounded- and I wonder if he now regrets his decision to so quickly dismiss superstition.

    By Blogger ThomasBatson, at Tuesday, October 17, 2006 9:30:00 PM  

  • Frederick the Great was a brilliant politician because, as many rulers before his time did not, he realized the worth of the people he governed and saw the benefits of holding politique ideals to keep them in his own country and not outraging them by adopting a religion (therefore creating faction against faction and so on; he learned from history). His justification for absolute monarchy was not out of selfish need for sitting down on his lazy bum and enjoying the riches of court life. He sincerely felt that ruling alongside a minister, auxiliary source of power, or what have he, would inhibit his ability to create a state running as clockwork, and that a secondary opinion would get in the way of his swift judgement if a problem were to arise. Any sort of conflict was to be avoided. Of course he wanted strict power, but only out of a need for order: the nobles were to be pacified and left to keep their land and the citizens were not to be stirred, but observed. He strove for the uprising of his state, for which he created heavy work for himself to advance the cause. And he played the flute. Represent.

    By Blogger Victoria, at Tuesday, October 17, 2006 9:41:00 PM  

  • I have always liked Frederick the Great, to begin with because he was a very good friend of Bach, more so than any other ruler, but once I read about his views and achievements I liked him more. The complaints brought against Frederick are not accurate, for his views complained about are politically realist and perfectly aware of what helps or hinders his rule. It does not mean that he is rich or stupid if he only talks about the nobility, for the nobles control every country, (even ours), beyond the control of any commoner, and this goes doubly for German populaces, which haven't had any huge revolt to inspire them in history. It was also Machiavelli's view that as long as the common people have not been given any power, then they have none and are therefore no worry to a ruler, particularly in that time before mass media. Frederick says that absolute monarchy is essential because any other people in power alongside the main king would ruin his chance to do good for the country, saying "...a system of politics cannot be arrived at and continued if it has not sprung from a single brain". As for his comment on religion, he's not harming any religion or raising any on a pedestal, which is best for the country, so why should anyone (e.g. Thomas) be so angry at him? He does blast religion, but it's not a public address and was not meant for any ears that would disagree, so he's not trying to offend anyone. He's doing what's best for Prussia in that statement. As for your argument that Prussia's not still around, Thomas, the reason there's no more Prussia is because it was so successful it was able to change its name to Germany. Of course the result of World War I stopped the Hohenzollern rule, but they still outlasted the Papacy which had gone away in 1871 at the hands of the new Italian state, only to regain some temporal power due to the kindness of Benito Mussolini in 1922.

    By Blogger Unknown, at Wednesday, October 18, 2006 6:24:00 AM  

  • Frederick the Great and I would probably be wonderful friends. Maybe. In this document he seems to know just what the country needs; a single brain, religious toleration, philosophy, and a government conducted through reason.
    Frederick sees politics overall as a way to get what you want if you happen to be the ruler, which he was. He sees politics as a science, something to learn the inner workings of before one can understand it. He encourages the study of one's history and of the people one would govern which is exactly, I think, what politics should be. A ruler should know what has happened and what is happening in order to decide what will happen.
    The Prussian monarchy, according to Frederick, should be asingle brain that is the servant of the state. So he is pretty much a politique. He says that "if the sovereign, actuated by a mistaken zeal, declares himself for one religion or another, parties will spring up, heated disputes ensue, little by little persecutions will commence and, in the end the religon persecuted will leave the fatherland and enrich our neighbors will their skill and industry" which means that declaring a national religion will end up benefitting other countries. Which shows his politique attitude because he is more concerned with the well being of his country than the religion of his country.
    His justification for absolutism is that only a country run by a single brain can strengthen the state and further its power. I don't really agree with that, but it does make sense that if there is one person in charge they can govern personally which was a very big point for Frederick.
    As a side not I loved the final paragraph. It was so well articulated. Its saying that while he doesnt agree with religions at all and how they are so illogical but he still has enough ense not to say anything to the public for the good of the country.

    By Blogger manxomefoe, at Wednesday, October 18, 2006 7:34:00 PM  

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