What concept did the Enlightenment challenge regarding governance?

The Enlightenment fundamentally challenged the idea of the divine right of kings, which was a belief that monarchs derived their authority directly from God and were therefore accountable only to Him. This concept justified absolute monarchy and placed rulers above the law, leading to unchecked power and potential tyranny. Enlightenment thinkers such as John Locke, Voltaire, and Montesquieu argued for rational governance, individual rights, and the idea that government should be based on social contracts and the consent of the governed. Their advocacy for reason and empirical evidence encouraged people to question established authorities and traditions.

By promoting principles like popular sovereignty and the idea that government should protect the rights of individuals rather than rule by divine mandate, the Enlightenment provided a philosophical foundation for modern democratic thought and political reform. This shift in perspective laid the groundwork for later developments in political theory and the establishment of democratic systems, which stand in opposition to the hierarchical and authoritarian structures justified by the divine right of kings.