Samuel von Pufendorf

Samuel von Pufendorf
Engraving by Joseph de Montalegre of Samuel von Pufendorf, 1706
Born
Samuel Pufendorf

(1632-01-08)8 January 1632
Died26 October 1694(1694-10-26) (aged 62)
NationalityGerman
EducationUniversity of Leipzig
University of Jena
Era17th-century philosophy
RegionWestern philosophy
SchoolNatural law
InstitutionsUniversity of Heidelberg
University of Lund
Main interests
Jurisprudence, political philosophy, economics and history
Signature

Samuel Freiherr von Pufendorf (8 January 1632 – 26 October 1694) was a German jurist, political philosopher, economist and historian. He was born Samuel Pufendorf and ennobled in 1694; he was made a baron by Charles XI of Sweden a few months before his death at age 62. Among his achievements are his commentaries and revisions of the natural law theories of Thomas Hobbes and Hugo Grotius.

His political concepts are part of the cultural background of the American Revolution. Pufendorf is seen as an important precursor of Enlightenment in Germany. He was involved in constant quarrels with clerical circles and frequently had to defend himself against accusations of heresy, despite holding largely traditional Christian views on matters of dogma and doctrine.[1]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Döring was invoked but never defined (see the help page).