Which of the following thinkers would most likely agree with the absolutist government style represented by Louis XIV with the phrase "I am the state"?

The thinker most aligned with the absolutist government style represented by Louis XIV, particularly through the assertion "I am the state," is Thomas Hobbes. In his work "Leviathan," Hobbes emphasizes the necessity of a powerful, centralized authority to maintain order and prevent the chaos he believed would arise in the absence of such authority. He argues that people consent to surrender some of their freedoms to a sovereign in exchange for security and protection, reflecting the principles of absolute monarchy.

This aligns closely with the idea of absolutism, as it advocates for a strong ruler who has total control over the state, mirroring Louis XIV's reign where the monarch wielded significant power and authority, often viewing their rule as divinely ordained. Hobbes' perspective supports the concept of the state as an entity that embodies the will of the ruler, making him the thinker most likely to resonate with Louis XIV's famous declaration.