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

第4章

second treatise of government-第4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!



litic society; and I doubt not  in the sequel of this discourse; to make it very clear。   …


                          C H A P。 I I I。                                                       Of the State of War。

     16。 THE state of war is a state of enmity and  destruction: and therefore declaring by word or action; not a  passionate and hasty; but a sedate settled design upon another  man's life; puts him in a state of war with him against whom he  has declared such an intention; and so has exposed his life to  the other's power to be taken away by him; or any one that joins  with him in his defence; and espouses his quarrel; it being  reasonable and just; I should have a right to destroy that which  threatens me with destruction: for; by the fundamental law of  nature; man being to be preserved as much as possible; when all  cannot be preserved; the safety of the innocent is to be  preferred: and one may destroy a man who makes war upon him; or  has discovered an enmity to his being; for the same reason that  he may kill a wolf or a lion; because such men are not under  the ties of the commonlaw of reason; have no other rule; but that  of force and violence; and so may be treated as beasts of prey;  those dangerous and noxious creatures; that will be sure to  destroy him whenever he falls into their power。      Sect; 17。 And hence it is; that he who attempts to get  another man into his absolute power; does thereby put himself  into a state of war with him; it being to be understood as a  declaration of a design upon his life: for I have reason to  conclude; that he who would get me into his power without my  consent; would use me as he pleased when he had got me there; and  destroy me too when he had a fancy to it; for no body can desire  to have me in his absolute power; unless it be to compel me by  force to that which is against the right of my freedom; i。e。  make me a slave。  To be free from such force is the only security  of my preservation; and reason bids me look on him; as an enemy  to my preservation; who would take away that freedom which is  the fence to it; so that he who makes an attempt to enslave me;  thereby puts himself into a state of war with me。  He that; in  the state of nature; would take away the freedom that belongs  to any one in that state; must necessarily be supposed to have a  foundationtofeallathevrest;hasghelthat;hin theestateeofgsociety;  would take away the freedom belonging to those of that society  or commonwealth; must be supposed to design to take away from  them every thing else; and so be looked on as in a state of war。      Sec。 18。  This makes it lawful for a man to kill a thief;  who has not in the least hurt him; nor declared any design upon  his life; any farther than; by the use of force; so to get him in  his power; as to take away his money; or what he pleases; from  him; because using force; where he has no right; to get me into  his power; let his pretence be what it will; I have no reason to  suppose; that he; who would take away my liberty; would not;  when he had me in his power; take away every thing else。  And  therefore it is lawful for me to treat him as one who has put  himself into a state of war with me; i。e。  kill him if I can;  for to that hazard does he justly expose himself; whoever  introduces a state of war; and is aggressor in it。      Sec。 19。  And here we have the plain difference between the  state of nature and the state of war; which however some men  have confounded; are as far distant; as a state of peace; good  will; mutual assistance and preservation; and a state of enmity;  malice; violence and mutual destruction; are one from another。   Men living together according to reason; without a common  superior on earth; with authority to judge between them; is  properly the state of nature。  But force; or a declared design  of force; upon the person of another; where there is no common  superior on earth to appeal to for relief; is the state of war:  and it is the want of such an appeal gives a man the right of war  even against an aggressor; tho' he be in society and a fellow  subject。  Thus a thief; whom I cannot harm; but by appeal to  the law; for having stolen all that I am worth; I may kill; when  he sets on me to rob me but of my horse or coat; because the law;  which was made for my preservation; where it cannot interpose to  secure my life from present force; which; if lost; is capable of  no reparation; permits me my own defence; and the right of war; a  liberty to kill the aggressor; because the aggressor allows not  time to appeal to our common judge; nor the decision of the law;  for remedy in a case where the mischief may be irreparable。  Want  of a common judge with authority; puts all men in a state of  nature: force without right; upon a man's person; makes a state  of war; both where there is; and is not; a common judge。      Sec。 20。  But when the actual force is over; the state of  war ceases between those that are in society; and are equally on  both sides subjected to the fair determination of the law;  because then there lies open the remedy of appeal for the past  injury; and to prevent future harm: but where no such appeal is;  as in the state of nature; for want of positive laws; and judges  with authority to appeal to; the state of war once begun;  continues; with a right to the innocent party to destroy the  other whenever he can; until the aggressor offers peace; and  desires reconciliation on such terms as may repair any wrongs he  has already done; and secure the innocent for the future; nay;  where an appeal to the law; and constituted judges; lies open;  but the remedy is denied by a manifest perverting of justice; and  a barefaced wresting of the laws to protect or indemnify the  violence or injuries of some men; or party of men; there it is  hard to imagine any thing but a state of war: for wherever  violence is used; and injury done; though by hands appointed to  administer justice; it is still violence and injury; however  coloured with the name; pretences; or forms of law; the end  whereof being to protect and redress the innocent; by an  unbiassed application of it; to all who are under it; wherever  that is not bona fide done; war is made upon the sufferers; who  having no appeal on earth to right them; they are left to the  only remedy in such cases; an appeal to heaven。      Sec。 21。  To avoid this state of war (wherein there is no  appeal but to heaven; and wherein every the least difference is  apt to end; where there is no authority to decide between the  contenders) is one great reason of men's putting themselves into  society; and quitting the state of nature: for where there is an  authority; a power on earth; from which relief can be had by  appeal; there the continuance of the state of war is excluded;  and the controversy is decided by that power。  Had there been any  such court; any superior jurisdiction on earth; to determine the  right between Jephtha and the Ammonites; they had never come to a  state of war: but we see he was forced to appeal to heaven。  The  Lord the Judge (says he) be judge this day between the children  of Israel and the children of Ammon; Judg。  xi。  27。  and then  prosecuting; and relying on his appeal; he leads out his army to  battle: and therefore in such controversies; where the question  is put; who shall be judge?  It cannot be meant; who shall decide  the controversy; every one knows what Jephtha here tells us; that  the Lord the Judge shall judge。  Where there is no judge on  earth; the appeal lies to God in heaven。  That question then  cannot mean; who shall judge; whether another hath put himself in  a state of war with me; and whether I may; as Jephtha did; appeal  to heaven in it? of that I myself can only be judge in my own  conscience; as I will answer it; at the great day; to the supreme  judge of all men。



                          CHAP。  IV。

                          Of SLAVERY。

     Sec。 22。  THE natural liberty of man is to be free from any  superior power on earth; and not to be under the will or  legislative authority of man; but to have only the law of nature  for his rule。  The liberty of man; in society; is to be under no  other legislative pow

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的