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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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