government theory

Chapter 13 On the Transfer of Adam’s Supreme Ruler

78．Sir Robert's arguments for the dominion of Adam are not brilliant, nor are his arguments for the devolution of dominion to succeeding princes.If his political theory is correct, then these subsequent princes must have taken their rights from Adam.What he says about the transfer of rights is scattered throughout his writings, and I will quote him himself.In his preface he tells us: "Since Adam is sovereign over all the world, no one has a right to anything from his descendants except by his grant, sanction, or inheritance from him." In this sentence , Concerning the transfer of everything that Adam possessed, he proposes two methods, namely, "grant" and "inheritance." The ancestors were originally the natural parents of all mankind", "A group of people, no matter how many people are, in itself, there must be one person who is considered to be Adam's nearest successor, and he naturally has the right to be the monarch of the rest. ".In both places, he believed that "inheritance" was the only way to transfer the monarchy to the later monarchs.He added: "All power in the world is either derived from or usurped from patriarchy." the heirs of their fathers, or some who usurp the rights of these fathers." In this sentence, he refers to "inheritance" or "usurpation" as the only two methods by which monarchs can obtain this fundamental power, but he also Tell us: "The father's empire, because it is hereditary, can also be transferred by charter, or it can be taken by usurpers." It can be seen that inheritance, grant or usurpation can all transfer the power of the monarch. method.Finally, and most astonishingly, he also said this: "It does not matter whether princes acquire their powers by election, by conferment, by inheritance, or by any other means, for what makes them true princes It is not the method of obtaining the throne, but the method of ruling with the highest power." In my opinion, this sentence fully explains all his "assumptions" and arguments about taking Adam's kingship as the source of kingship for all monarchs.For a man to be a "true prince," he would save himself a great deal of trouble if he had only to "rule with supreme power, regardless of the means by which he acquired it," rather than having to, as he did, put Heirs and lineages are discussed throughout the book.

79．With this attention-grabbing approach our author can make Oliver, or anyone else he can think of, a "true monarch."If he himself had the good fortune to be born under the government of Masanillo, then according to his own principle, he must have expressed his allegiance to Masannillo and wished him "Long live my king!".For although Masanillo had been a real fisherman the day before, yet the manner in which he ruled with supreme power already made him a "true" prince.Besides, if Don Quixote had taught his followers to rule with the highest authority, our author would undoubtedly have been the most loyal subject of the island where Sancho Panza dwelt, and would certainly Receive certain privileges in the government.For I think he was the first statesman who, while professing to have founded government on a true foundation and instituted a legitimate monarchy, at the same time told the world, "He who rules by the highest power, Regardless of his method of acquiring power, he is a true sovereign."In simple words, no matter what method is used, as long as a person can obtain kingship and supreme power, then the kingship and supreme power are truly and legitimately owned by him.If in this way he becomes "a real prince," I wonder how he can think of a "usurper" and where to find one.

80．It is a doctrine so strange that I am so amazed that I pass over it without due consideration of its many contradictions.For example, he believes that the way to transfer the "authority" of Adam's monarchy, that is, the highest ruling power, to later monarchs and rulers, so that they can enjoy the qualifications of obedience and subordination of subjects, can sometimes be "inherited" alone, and sometimes By both "grant" and "inheritance", sometimes by "inheritance" or "usurpation", sometimes by all three methods at the same time, and finally, "election" or "any other method" can be added.These contradictions are so obvious that a person of ordinary understanding has only to read our author's words to discover them.Although the quotations from him (which are far more coherent and consistent in tone than his original) may serve as a reason for not having to go any further in this argument, however, since I have already considered his doctrine As my task, even if there is unprecedentedly strong evidence that Adam was once the absolute sovereign and master of the world, I will examine it in more detail, and look at the "inheritance", "granting", "usurpation" or "election" "How, on his principles, any government can be instituted in the world in any manner, or any submissive legality can be derived from this kingship of Adam.

(End of this chapter)