1001Philosophers

Samuel Pufendorf 1632 – 1694

Samuel Pufendorf (1632 – 1694) was a German philosopher of the Modern era, associated with Early Modern Philosophy and Political Philosophy.

Samuel Pufendorf was a German jurist, political philosopher, and historian, the principal continental developer of the natural-law tradition that ran from Grotius to Locke. The first occupant of a chair of natural and international law, at Heidelberg, he later served as historiographer royal in Sweden and Brandenburg. His Of the Law of Nature and of Nations and the popular abridgment On the Duty of Man and Citizen articulated an account of natural law grounded in human sociability and a doctrine of the state as the product of consent. His thought shaped the early American constitutional tradition.

Key facts

Nationality
German
Era
Modern
Movements
Early Modern Philosophy, Political Philosophy

Selected quotes

  • Attributed to Samuel Pufendorf:

    “Man is a sociable animal, and his nature compels him to seek the society of his kind.”

  • Attributed to Samuel Pufendorf:

    “The state arises from the consent of the governed.”

  • Attributed to Samuel Pufendorf:

    “Natural law is the rule by which we know what is right and what is wrong.”

  • Attributed to Samuel Pufendorf:

    “All men are equal in their original dignity.”

  • Attributed to Samuel Pufendorf:

    “The first duty of natural law is to do no harm to another.”

Samuel Pufendorf by topic

Frequently asked about Samuel Pufendorf

When did Samuel Pufendorf live?
Samuel Pufendorf was born in 1632 and died in 1694.
Where was Samuel Pufendorf from?
Samuel Pufendorf was a German philosopher of the Modern era.
What philosophical movements is Samuel Pufendorf associated with?
Samuel Pufendorf was associated with Early Modern Philosophy and Political Philosophy.
What was Samuel Pufendorf known for?
Samuel Pufendorf was a German jurist, political philosopher, and historian, the principal continental developer of the natural-law tradition that ran from Grotius to Locke.
How many quotes are attributed to Samuel Pufendorf?
There are 5 attributed quotations from Samuel Pufendorf in the 1001Philosophers collection, organized by topic.