第 13 节
作者:
打倒一切 更新:2021-02-21 15:39 字数:9322
probably be much better on a throne; where perhaps learning and
religion shall be found out to justify all that he shall do to his
subjects; and the sword presently silence all those that dare question
it。 For what the protection of absolute monarchy is; what kind of
fathers of their countries it makes princes to be; and to what a
degree of happiness and security it carries civil society; where
this sort of government is grown to perfection; he that will look into
the late relation of Ceylon may easily see。
93。 In absolute monarchies; indeed; as well as other governments
of the world; the subjects have an appeal to the law; and judges to
decide any controversies; and restrain any violence that may happen
betwixt the subjects themselves; one amongst another。 This every one
thinks necessary; and believes; he deserves to be thought a declared
enemy to society and mankind who should go about to take it away。
But whether this be from a true love of mankind and society; and
such a charity as we owe all one to another; there is reason to doubt。
For this is no more than what every man; who loves his own power;
profit; or greatness; may; and naturally must do; keep those animals
from hurting or destroying one another who labour and drudge only
for his pleasure and advantage; and so are taken care of; not out of
any love the master has for them; but love of himself; and the
profit they bring him。 For if it be asked what security; what fence is
there in such a state against the violence and oppression of this
absolute ruler; the very question can scarce be borne。 They are
ready to tell you that it deserves death only to ask after safety。
Betwixt subject and subject; they will grant; there must be
measures; laws; and judges for their mutual peace and security。 But as
for the ruler; he ought to be absolute; and is above all such
circumstances; because he has a power to do more hurt and wrong; it is
right when he does it。 To ask how you may be guarded from or injury on
that side; where the strongest hand is to do it; is presently the
voice of faction and rebellion。 As if when men; quitting the state
of Nature; entered into society; they agreed that all of them but
one should be under the restraint of laws; but that he should still
retain all the liberty of the state of Nature; increased with power;
and made licentious by impunity。 This is to think that men are so
foolish that they take care to avoid what mischiefs may be done them
by polecats or foxes; but are content; nay; think it safety; to be
devoured by lions。
94。 But; whatever flatterers may talk to amuse people's
understandings; it never hinders men from feeling; and when they
perceive that any man; in what station soever; is out of the bounds of
the civil society they are of; and that they have no appeal; on earth;
against any harm they may receive from him; they are apt to think
themselves in the state of Nature; in respect of him whom they find to
be so; and to take care; as soon as they can; to have that safety
and security; in civil society; for which it was first instituted; and
for which only they entered into it。 And therefore; though perhaps
at first; as shall be showed more at large hereafter; in the following
part of this discourse; some one good and excellent man having got a
pre…eminency amongst the rest; had this deference paid to his goodness
and virtue; as to a kind of natural authority; that the chief rule;
with arbitration of their differences; by a tacit consent devolved
into his hands; without any other caution but the assurance they had
of his uprightness and wisdom; yet when time giving authority; and; as
some men would persuade us; sacredness to customs; which the negligent
and unforeseeing innocence of the first ages began; had brought in
successors of another stamp; the people finding their properties not
secure under the government as then it was* (whereas government has no
other end but the preservation of property); could never be safe;
nor at rest; nor think themselves in civil society; till the
legislative was so placed in collective bodies of men; call them
senate; parliament; or what you please; by which means every single
person became subject equally with other the meanest men; to those
laws; which he himself; as part of the legislative; had established;
nor could any one; by his own authority; avoid the force of the law;
when once made; nor by any pretence of superiority plead exemption;
thereby to license his own; or the miscarriages of any of his
dependants。 No man in civil society can be exempted from the laws of
it。 For if any man may do what he thinks fit and there be no appeal on
earth for redress or security against any harm he shall do; I ask
whether he be not perfectly still in the state of Nature; and so can
be no part or member of that civil society; unless any one will say
the state of Nature and civil society are one and the same thing;
which I have never yet found any one so great a patron of anarchy as
to affirm。*(2)
* 〃At the first; when some certain kind of regimen was once
appointed; it may be that nothing was then further thought upon for
the manner of governing; but all permitted unto their wisdom and
discretion which were to rule till; by experience; they found this for
all parts very inconvenient; so as the thing which they had devised
for a remedy did indeed but increase the sore which it should have
cured。 They saw that to live by one man's will became the cause of all
men's misery。 This constrained them to come unto laws wherein all
men might see their duty beforehand; and know the penalties of
transgressing them。〃 Hooker; Eccl。 Pol。 i。 10。
*(2) 〃Civil law; being the act of the whole body politic; doth
therefore overrule each several part of the same body。〃 Hooker; ibid。
Chapter VIII
Of the Beginning of Political Societies
95。 MEN being; as has been said; by nature all free; equal; and
independent; no one can be put out of this estate and subjected to the
political power of another without his own consent; which is done by
agreeing with other men; to join and unite into a community for
their comfortable; safe; and peaceable living; one amongst another; in
a secure enjoyment of their properties; and a greater security against
any that are not of it。 This any number of men may do; because it
injures not the freedom of the rest; they are left; as they were; in
the liberty of the state of Nature。 When any number of men have so
consented to make one community or government; they are thereby
presently incorporated; and make one body politic; wherein the
majority have a right to act and conclude the rest。
96。 For; when any number of men have; by the consent of every
individual; made a community; they have thereby made that community
one body; with a power to act as one body; which is only by the will
and determination of the majority。 For that which acts any
community; being only the consent of the individuals of it; and it
being one body; must move one way; it is necessary the body should
move that way whither the greater force carries it; which is the
consent of the majority; or else it is impossible it should act or
continue one body; one community; which the consent of every
individual that united into it agreed that it should; and so every one
is bound by that consent to be concluded by the majority。 And
therefore we see that in assemblies empowered to act by positive
laws where no number is set by that positive law which empowers
them; the act of the majority passes for the act of the whole; and
of course determines as having; by the law of Nature and reason; the
power of the whole。
97。 And thus every man; by consenting with others to make one body
politic under one government; puts himself under an obligation to
every one of that society to submit to the determination of the
majority; and to be concluded by it; or else this original compact;
whereby he with others incorporates into one society; would signify
nothing; and be no compact if he be left free and under no other
ties than he was in before in the state of Nature。 For what appearance
would there be of any compact? What new engagement if he were no
farther tied by any decrees of the society than he himself thought fit
and did actually consent to? This would be still as great a liberty as
he himself had before his compact; or any one else in the state of
Nature; who may submit himself and consent to any acts of it if he
thinks fit。
98。 For if the consent of the majority shall not in reason be
received as the act of the whole; and conclude every individual;
nothing but the consent of every individual can make anything to be
the act of the whole; which; considering the infirmities of health and
avocations of business; which in a number though much less than that
of a commonwealth; will necessarily keep many away from the public
assembly; and the variety of opinions and contrariety of interests
which unavoidably happen in all collections of men; it