Autor: Baron Acton John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton

John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton, better known as Baron Acton, was a preeminent Victorian historian, deeply erudite and known for his profound ethical judgment on the use of power. Born on January 10, 1834, and educated at Munich under the historian Dollinger, Acton became a key figure in liberal Catholicism and an advocate for the principles of freedom and morality in history. His erudition was vast, encompassing a breadth of knowledge that shaped his perspective on historical events. Acton was particularly intrigued by the interplay of liberty and authority, a theme he explored extensively throughout his scholarly career. His seminal work, „Lectures on Modern History“, delivered at Cambridge and published posthumously in 1906, offered insightful analysis on the development of modern states and the nature of historical inquiry. Acton“s literary style combined precision with a moral imperative, emphasizing the duty of historians to judge the past and the need for moral criteria in assessing historical actors. His works remain essential reading for students of history, providing both a methodological framework and a moral compass for understanding the complexities of human society and governance (Acton, 1906). An enduring legacy is also found in his oft-quoted maxim, „Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely“, a testament to his belief in the necessity of limits on authority and the permanence of moral standards in public life.