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A Theologico…Political Treatise 'Part IV'







by Benedict de Spinoza







Also known as Baruch Spinoza







Translated by R。 H。 M。 Elwes













Part IV of IV … Chapters XVI to XX

























TABLE OF CONTENTS: Search strings are shown thus '16:x'。



                   Search forward and back with the same string。















'16:0' CHAPTER XVI … Of the Foundations of a State;



   of the Natural and  Civil Rights of Individuals;



   and of the Rights of the Sovereign Power。







'16:1'  In Nature right co…extensive with power。







'16:2'  This principle applies to mankind in the state of Nature。







'16:3'  How a transition from this state to a civil state is possible。







'16:4'  Subjects not slaves。







'16:5'  Definition of private civil right … and wrong。







'16:6'  Of alliance。







'16:7'  Of treason。







'16:8'  In what sense sovereigns are bound by Divine law。







'16:9'  Civil government not inconsistent with religion。















'17:0'  CHAPTER XVII。… It is shown; that no one can or need



   transfer all his Rights to the Sovereign Power。 Of the



   Hebrew Republic; as it was during  the lifetime of Moses;



   and after his death till the foundation of the Monarchy;



   and of its Excellence。 Lastly; of the Causes why the



   Theocratic Republic fell; and why it could hardly have



   continued without Dissension。







'17:1'  The absolute theory; of Sovereignty ideal … No one can



        in fact transfer all his rights to the Sovereign power。



        Evidence of this。







'17:2'  The greatest danger in all States from within;



        not without。







'17:3'  Original independence of the Jews after the Exodus。







'17:4'  Changed first to a pure democratic Theocracy。







'17:5'  Then to subjection to Moses。







'17:6'  Then to a Theocracy with the power divided



        between the high priest and the captains。







'17:7'  The tribes confederate states。







'17:8'  Restraints on the civil power。







'17:9'  Restraints on the people。







'17:A'  Causes of decay involved in the constitution



        of the Levitical priesthood。















'18:0'  CHAPTER XVIII。… From the Commonwealth of the Hebrews and



   their History certain Lessons are deduced。







'18:1'  The Hebrew constitution no longer possible or desirable;



        yet lessons may be derived from its history。







'18:2'  As the danger of entrusting any authority in politics



        to ecclesiastics … the danger of identifying



        religion with dogma。







'18:3'  The necessity of keeping all judicial power with



        the sovereign … the danger  of changes in the



        form of a State。







'18:4'  This last danger illustrated from the history of



        England … of Rome。







'18:5'  And of Holland。















'19:0' CHAPTER XIX …  It is shown that the Right



   over Matters Spiritual lies wholly with the



   Sovereign; and that the Outward Forms of



   Religion should be in accordance with Public



   Peace; if we would worship God aright。







'19:1'  Difference between external and inward religion。







'19:2'  Positive law established only by agreement。







'19:3'  Piety furthered by peace and obedience。







'19:4'  Position of the Apostles exceptional。







'19:5'  Why Christian States; unlike the Hebrew;



        suffer from disputes between the civil



        and ecclesiastical powers。







'19:6'  Absolute power in things spiritual of modern rulers。



















'20:0'  CHAPTER XX …  That in a Free State every man



may Think what he Likes; and Say what he Thinks。







'20:1'  The mind not subject to State authority。







'20:2'  Therefore in general language should not be。







'20:3'  A man who disapproving of a law; submits his adverse opinion



        to the judgment of the authorities; while acting in



        accordance  with the law; deserves well of the State。







'20:4'  That liberty of opinion is beneficial; shown from



        the history of Amsterdam。







'20:5'  Danger to the State of withholding it。 …



        Submission of the Author to the



        judgment of his country's rulers。











'Author's Endnotes' to the Treatise。























'16:0' CHAPTER XVI … OF THE FOUNDATIONS OF A STATE; OF THE



NATURAL AND CIVIL RIGHTS OF INDIVIDUALS; AND OF THE



RIGHTS OF THE SOVEREIGN POWER。







(1) Hitherto our care has been to separate philosophy from theology; and to



show the freedom of thought which such separation insures to both。 (2) It is



now time to determine the limits to which such freedom of thought and



discussion may extend itself in the ideal state。 (3) For the due



consideration of this question we must examine the foundations of a State;



first turning our attention to the natural rights of individuals; and



afterwards to religion and the state as a whole。







(16:4) By the right and ordinance of nature; I merely mean those natural



laws wherewith we conceive every individual to be conditioned by nature; so



as to live and act in a given way。 (5) For instance; fishes are naturally



conditioned for swimming; and the greater for devouring the less; therefore



fishes enjoy the water; and the greater devour the less by sovereign natural



right。 '16:1' (6) For it is certain that nature; taken in the abstract; has



sovereign right to do anything; she can; in other words; her right is co…



extensive with her power。 (7) The power of nature is the power of God; which



has sovereign right over all things; and; inasmuch as the power of nature



is simply the aggregate of the powers of all her individual components; it



follows that every; individual has sovereign right to do all that he can; in



other words; the rights of an individual extend to the utmost limits of his



power as it has been conditioned。 (8) Now it is the sovereign law and right



of nature that each individual should endeavour to preserve itself as it is;



without regard to anything but itself ; therefore this sovereign law and



right belongs to every individual; namely; to exist and act according



to its natural conditions。 (9) We do not here acknowledge any



difference between mankind and other individual natural entities; nor



between men endowed with reason and those to whom reason is unknown; nor



between fools; madmen; and sane men。 (10) Whatsoever an individual does by



the laws of its nature it has a sovereign right to do; inasmuch as it



acts as it was conditioned by nature; and cannot act otherwise。 '16:2' (11)



Wherefore among men; so long as they are considered as living under the sway



of nature; he who does not yet know reason; or who has not yet acquired the



habit of virtue; acts solely according to the laws of his desire with as



sovereign a right as he who orders his life entirely by the laws of reason。







(16:12) That is; as the wise man has sovereign right to do all that reason



dictates; or to live according to the laws of reason; so also the ignorant



and foolish man has sovereign right to do all that desire dictates; or to



live according to the laws of desire。 (13) This is identical with the



teaching of Paul; who acknowledges that previous to the law … that is; so



long as men are considered of as living under the sway of nature; there is



no sin。







(16:14) The natural right of the individual man is thus determined; not by



sound reason; but by desire and power。 (15) All are not naturally



conditioned so as to act according to the laws and rules of reason; nay; on



the contrary; all men are born ignorant; and before they can learn the



right way of life and acquire the habit of virtue; the greater part of their



life; even if they have been well brought up; has passed away。 (16)



Nevertheless; they are in the meanwhile bound to live and preserve



themselves as far as they can by the unaided impulses of desire。 (17) Nature



has given them no other guide; and has denied them the present power of



living according to sound reason; so that they are no more bound to live by



the dictates of an enlightened mind; than a cat is bound to live by the laws



of the nature of a lion。







(16:18) Whatsoever; therefore; an individual (considered as under the sway



of nature) thinks useful for himself; whether led by sound reason or



impelled by the passions; that he has a sovereign right to seek and to take



for himself as he best can; whether by force; cunning; entreaty; or any



other means; consequently he may regard as an enemy anyone who hinders



the accomplishment of his purpose。







(16:19) It follows from what we have said that the right and ordinance of



nature; under which 

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