German natural law philosopher. In his main work (1672), Samuel von Pufendorf argued that civil society was established largely on contract between individual wills, but that sovereignty rests in a benevolent ruler. He gave philosophical rationale for State paternalism which was then taken up by German Cameralists. Pufendorf also made the careful distinction between "usefulness", a quality intrinsic in a good, and "utility", a property of the relationship between the good and its consumer. Justified existence of private property contra Grotius.
Major Works of Samuel von Pufendorf
Resources on Samuel von Pufendorf