according to renaissance philosophy, commoners often represent

the "common good," or the public welfare, as opposed to the interests of individuals or the aristocracy. In Renaissance thought, commoners were seen as capable of making decisions that were beneficial for the general population rather than their own private interests. This is in contrast to the idea of the divine right of kings, which asserts that monarchs are infallible and cannot do wrong, regardless of the consequences for the people. The emphasis on the common good was very influential in the development of democratic ideals, such as the belief that the people should have a say in their government. This concept has been incorporated into modern political theories, including John Locke's social contract theory.

the physical world while the elite classes are assigned a greater spiritual role. This philosophy held that the ruling and wealthy classes had a higher purpose of guiding, educating, and providing moral guidance to their communities. The idea was that it was the responsibility of the elite to cultivate knowledge, develop culture and spread truth in order to help the masses lead better lives. It was believed that their elevated status and authority in society should enable them to do more for their community than an ordinary person could, and this included not just providing tangible goods, but also offering spiritual and moral leadership. The notion of the common man's focus on the material and the upper classes' focus on the spiritual was one of the cornerstones of Renaissance philosophy. It was thought that only through this combination of the two could a balanced and harmonious society be attained. This idea was part of the impetus behind the many books and publications written during the Renaissance that sought to explain and teach the people how to live better and more enlightened life.