ABSTRACT
Robert Filmer's various works, Patriarcha, The Anarchy of a Limited or Mixed Monarchy and Observations concerning the Original of Government, used the Genesis story of Adam's creation to argue that an absolutist monarchy is the only legitimate form of government. His influence has continued beyond the times to colour modern interpretations of the impact of Biblically grounded, Adamic theory on political thought. As the theory in response to which Locke wrote his Treatises, Filmer's patriarchalism came to represent in the liberal tradition, the shackles of 'political Adamicism' from which political progressive, Locke, broke free. Filmer's royalist theory was grounded in his interpretation of the Creation narratives in Genesis. Filmer's politics were based on his reading of Adam's state in Genesis. Recognition of some connection between Adam's sovereignty over his descendants and the political authority of the current monarch was mainstream thinking for much of the century.
