贝壳电子书 > 英文原著电子书 > second treatise of government >

第3章

second treatise of government-第3章

小说: second treatise of government 字数: 每页4000字

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!



t how the magistrates of any community can punish an  alien of another country; since; in reference to him; they can  have no more power than what every man naturally may have over  another。      Sect; 10。 Besides the crime which consists in violating the  law; and varying from the right rule of reason; whereby a man so   far becomes degenerate; and declares himself to quit the  principles of human nature; and to be a noxious creature; there  is commonly injury done to some person or other; and some other  man receives damage by his transgression: in which case he who  hath received any damage; has; besides the right of punishment  common to him with other men; a particular right to seek  reparation from him that has done it: and any other person; who  finds it just; may also join with him that is injured; and assist  him in recovering from the offender so much as may make  satisfaction for the harm he has suffered。      Sect。 11。 From these two distinct rights; the one of  punishing the crime for restraint; and preventing the like  offence; which right of punishing is in every body; the other of  taking reparation; which belongs only to the injured party;  comes it to pass that the magistrate; who by being magistrate  hath the common  right  of punishing put into his hands; can  often; where the public good demands not the execution of the  law; remit the punishment of criminal offences by his own  authority; but yet cannot remit the satisfaction due to any  private man for the damage he has received。  That; he who has  suffered the damage has a right to demand in his own name; and he  alone can remit: the damnified person has this power of  appropriating to himself the goods or service of the offender;  by right of self…preservation; as every man has a power to  punish the crime; to prevent its being committed again; by the  right he has of preserving all mankind; and doing all reasonable  things he can in order to that end: and thus it is; that every  man; in the state of nature; has a power to kill a murderer; both  to deter others from doing the like injury; which no reparation  can compensate; by the example of the punishment that attends it  from every body; and also to secure men from the attempts of a  criminal; who having renounced reason; the common rule and  measure God hath given to mankind; hath; by the unjust violence  and slaughter he hath committed upon one; declared war against  all mankind; and therefore may be destroyed as a lion or a  tyger; one of those wild savage beasts; with whom men can have  no society nor security: and upon this is grounded that great law  of nature; Whoso sheddeth man's blood; by man shall his blood be  shed。 And Cain was so fully convinced; that every one had a  right to destroy such a criminal; that after the murder of his  brother; he cries out; Every one that findeth me; shall slay  me; so plain was it writ in the hearts of all mankind。      Sect。 12。 By the same reason may a man in the state of  nature punish the lesser breaches of that law。  It will perhaps  be demanded; with death? I answer; each transgression may be  punished to that degree; and with so much severity; as will  suffice to make it an ill bargain to the offender; give him cause  to repent; and terrify others from doing the like。  Every  offence; that can be committed in the state of nature; may in the  state of nature be also punished equally; and as far forth as it  may; in a commonwealth: for though it would be besides my present  purpose; to enter here into the particulars of the law of nature;  or its measures of punishment; yet; it is certain there is such  a law; and that too; as intelligible and plain to a rational  creature; and a studier of that law; as the positive laws of  commonwealths; nay; possibly plainer; as much as reason is easier  to be understood; than the fancies and intricate contrivances of  men; following contrary and hidden interests put into words; for  so truly are a great part of the municipal laws of countries;  which are only so far right; as they are founded on the law of  nature; by which they are to be regulated and interpreted。  

     Sect。 13。 To this strange doctrine; viz。 That in the  state of nature every one has the executive power of the law of  nature; I doubt not but it will be objected; that it is  unreasonable for men to be judges in their own cases; that self… love will make men partial to themselves and their friends: and  on the other side; that ill nature; passion and revenge will  carry them too far in punishing others; and  hence nothing but  confusion and disorder will follow; and that therefore God hath  certainly appointed government to restrain the partiality and  violence of men。  I easily grant; that civil government is the  proper remedy for the inconveniencies of the state of nature;  which must certainly be great; where men may be judges in their  own case; since it is easy to be imagined; that he who was so  unjust as to do his brother an injury; will scarce be so just as  to condemn himself for it: but I shall desire those who make this  objection; to remember; that absolute monarchs are but men; and  if government is to be  the remedy of those evils; which  necessarily follow from men's being judges in their own cases;  and the state of nature is therefore not to how much better it is  than the state of nature; where one man; commanding a multitude;  has the liberty to be judge in his own case; and may do to all  his subjects whatever he pleases; without the least liberty to  any one to question or controul those who execute his pleasure7  and in whatsoever he  cloth;  whether  led  by  reason; mistake  or passion; must be submitted to7 much better it is in the state  of nature; wherein men are not bound to submit to the unjust will  of another: and if he that judges; judges amiss in his own; or  any other case; he is answerable for it to the rest of mankind。      Sect。 14。 It is often asked as a mighty objection; where  are; or ever were there any men in such a state of nature? To  which it may suffice as an answer at present; that since all  princes and rulers of independent governments all through the  world; are in a  state  of nature; it is plain the world never  was; nor ever will be; without numbers of men in that state。  I  have named all governors of independent communities; whether  they are; or are  not;  in  league with others: for it is not  every compact that puts an end to the state of nature between  men; but only this one  of  agreeing  together mutually to enter  into one community; and make one body politic; other promises;  and compacts; men  may  make  one  with  another; and yet still  be in the state of nature。  The promises and bargains for truck;  &c。 between the two men in the desert island; mentioned by  Garcilasso de la Vega; in his history of Peru; or between a  Swiss and an Indian; in the woods of America; are binding  to them; though they are perfectly in a state of nature; in  reference to one another: for truth and keeping of faith belongs  to men; as men; and not as members of society。      Sect。 15。 To those that say; there were never any men in the  state of nature; I will not only oppose the authority  of  the   judicious Hooker; Eccl。 Pol。 lib。 i。 sect。 10; where he says;  The laws which have been hitherto mentioned; i。e。 the laws of  nature; do bind men absolutely; even as they are men; although  they have never any settled fellowship; never  any  solemn   agreement  amongst  themselves what to do; or not to do: but  forasmuch as we are not by ourselves sufficient to furnish  ourselves with competent store of things; needful for such a life  as our nature doth desire; a life fit for the dignity of man;  therefore to supply those defects and imperfections which are in  us; as living single and solely by ourselves; we are naturally  induced to seek communion and fellowship with  others:  this  was  the cause of men's uniting themselves at first in politic  societies。  But I moreover affirm; that all men are  naturally   in  that  state;  and  remain so; till by their own consents they  make themselves members of some politic society; and I doubt not  in the sequel of this discourse; to make it very clear。   …


   

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的