government theory

Chapter 26 Introduction
The previous article ("On the Principles of Certain Mistakes") has clarified:

First, Adam did not think that the right of fatherhood, or the express gift of God, entitles him to have that kind of authority over his children, nor does he think himself to have dominion over the world, as others say.

Second, even if he enjoyed this power, his heirs have no right to it.

Thirdly, even if his heirs enjoy this power, because there is no corresponding natural law, and there is no express provision of God to determine who is the legal heir on various occasions, there is no way to determine the right of succession, so who should control it Sovereignty is also uncertain.

Fourth, even if all of these are confirmed, it must have been impossible to find out who Adam’s long-term heir is. This makes it impossible for any human race or family in the world to claim to be the longest descendant. have the right to inherit.

Now that these presuppositions have been stated, it seems to me that the rulers of the world will now find support, or the slightest benefit, from the statement that "the personal dominion of Adam and the patriarchy are the source of all power." Power is impossible.Whoever, therefore, cannot justify himself by convincing men that all the governments of the world are but products of force and violence, and that men live together not under other laws, but under the laws of a beast of prey to the strong, thus lay down If the foundations of perpetual chaos, catastrophes, riots, disturbances, and rebellions (all things against which the followers of that hypothesis were loudly opposed) were established, he must seek an alternative to the theory of Sir Robert Filmer. A statement about the emergence of government, the origin of political power, and the method of distributing power.

2.For this reason, it would not be inappropriate for me to propose a definition of political power.I think that the power of a magistrate over his subjects may be different from that of a father over his children, that of a master over his servants, that of a husband over his wife, and that of a nobleman over his slaves.These different powers may sometimes all be concentrated in the same person. If he is studied in conjunction with these relationships, the differences between these powers can be discerned, and the relationship between the ruler of a country, the head of a family, and the captain of a ship can be explained. What is the difference between.

3.I regard, therefore, political power as the power to make laws for the regulation and protection of property, to impose capital punishment and all lesser punishments, and to use the power of the community to enforce these laws and defend the country from foreign aggressors.And it's all for the public good.

(End of this chapter)