I think it is arguable that a truly benevolent monarchy would be the most enlightened form of government -- BUT the monarch would have to be intelligent enough to bypass the "self-debilitation" problem that MMario identifies above of giving up personal responsibility because someone else is willing to solve issues for you. That wisdom would involve social inventions which left tot he monarch himself only those issues that could not be well-resolved by others for themselves, or in lower levels of the group.

The big problem with benevolent monarchy is lways the issue of succession -- ensuring it is benevolent and qualified for monarchy. DNA-driven monarchy is a weak succession mechanism. (E.g., the house of Hanover).







A