Intellectual History

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The question asks which concept was opposed by the central ideas of the Enlightenment. The word 'inimical' means hostile or harmful to.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The Enlightenment, or the Age of Reason, was an intellectual and philosophical movement that dominated Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries. Its core tenets included:
These doctrines were fundamentally inimical to the prevailing system of Absolute Monarchy, which was based on the divine right of kings, unchecked power, and a rigid social hierarchy. Enlightenment thinkers like John Locke, Montesquieu, and Rousseau argued for constitutional governments and the separation of powers, directly challenging the legitimacy of absolute rulers.

Step 3: Final Answer:
The Enlightenment doctrines were hostile to Absolute Monarchy, making option (C) the correct answer.