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second treatise of government-第4章
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on; 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。 …
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
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