a theologico-political treatise [part iv]-第5节
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'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' (1) The theory put forward in the last chapter; of the universal
rights of the sovereign power; and of the natural rights of the individual
transferred thereto; though it corresponds in many respects with actual
practice; and though practice may be so arranged as to conform to it more
and more; must nevertheless always remain in many respects purely ideal。 (2)
No one can ever so utterly transfer to another his power and; consequently;
his rights; as to cease to be a man; nor can there ever be a power so
sovereign that it can carry out every possible wish。 (3) It will always be
vain to order a subject to hate what he believes brings him advantage; or to
love what brings him loss; or not to be offended at insults; or not to wish
to be free from fear; or a hundred other things of the sort; which
necessarily follow from the laws of human nature。 (4) So much; I think; is
abundantly shown by experience: for men have never so far ceded their power
as to cease to be an object of fear to the rulers who received such power
and right; and dominions have always been in as much danger from their own
subjects as from external enemies。 (5) If it were really the case; that men
could be deprived of their natural rights so utterly as never to have any
further influence on affairs 'Endnote 29'; except with the permission of the
holders of sovereign right; it would then be possible to maintain with
impunity the most violent tyranny; which; I suppose; no one would for an
instant admit。
(17:6) We must; therefore; grant that every man retains some part of his
right; in dependence on his own decision; and no one else's。
(7) However; in order correctly to understand the extent of the sovereign's
right and power; we must take notice that it does not cover only those
actions to which it can compel men by fear; but absolutely every action
which it can induce men to perform: for it is the fact of obedience; not the
motive for obedience; which makes a man a subject。
(17:8) Whatever be the cause which leads a man to obey the commands of the
sovereign; whether it be fear or hope; or love of his country; or any other
emotion … the fact remains that the man takes counsel with himself; and
nevertheless acts as his sovereign orders。 (9) We must not; therefore;
assert that all actions resulting from a man's deliberation with himself are
done in obedience to the rights of the individual rather than the sovereign:
as a matter of fact; all actions spring from a man's deliberation with
himself; whether the determining motive be love or fear of punishment;
therefore; either dominion does not exist; and has no rights over its
subjects; or else it extends over every instance in which it can prevail on
men to decide to obey it。 (10) Consequently; every action which a subject
performs in accordance with the commands of the sovereign; whether such
action springs from love; or fear; or (as is more frequently the case) from
hope and fear together; or from reverence。 compounded of fear and
admiration; or; indeed; any motive whatever; is performed in virtue of his
submission to the sovereign; and not in virtue of his own authority。
(17:11) This point is made still more clear by the fact that obedience does
not consist so much in the outward act as in the mental state of the person
obeying; so that he is most under the dominion of another who with his whole
heart determines to obey another's commands; and consequently the firmest
dominion belongs to the sovereign who has most influence over the minds of
his subjects; if those who are most feared possessed the firmest dominion;
the firmest dominion would belong to the subjects of a tyrant; for they are
always greatly feared by their ruler。 (12) Furthermore; though it is
impossible to govern the mind as completely as the tongue; nevertheless
minds are; to a certain extent; under the control of the sovereign; for he
can in many ways bring about that the greatest part of his subjects should
follow his wishes in their beliefs; their loves; and their hates。 (13)
Though such emotions do not arise at the express command of the sovereign
they often result (as experience shows) from the authority of his power; and
from his direction ; in other words; in virtue of his right; we may;
therefore; without doing violence to our understanding; conceive men who
follow the instigation of their sovereign in their beliefs; their loves;
their hates; their contempt; and all other emotions whatsoever。
(17:14) Though the powers of government; as thus conceived; are sufficiently
ample; they can never become large enough to execute every possible wish of
their possessors。 (15) This; I think; I have already shown clearly enough。
(16) The method of forming a dominion which should prove lasting I do not;
as I have said; intend to discuss; but in order to arrive at the object I
have in view; I will touch on the teaching of Divine revelation to Moses in
this respect; and we will consider the history and the success of the Jews;
gathering therefrom what should be the chief concessions made by sovereigns
to their subjects with a view to the security and increase of their
dominion。
'17:2' (17) That the preservation of a state chiefly depends on the
subjects' fidelity and constancy in carrying out the orders they receive; is
most clearly taught both by reason and experience; how subjects ought to be
guided so as best to preserve their fidelity and virtue is not so obvious。
(18) All; both rulers and ruled; are men; and prone to follow after their
lusts。 (19) The fickle disposition of the multitude almost reduces those who
have experience of it to despair; for it is governed solely by emotions; not
by reason: it rushes headlong into every enterprise; and is easily corrupted
either by avarice or luxury: everyone thinks himself omniscient and wishes
to fashion all things to his liking; judging a thing to be just or unjust;
lawful or unlawful; according as he thinks it will bring him profit or loss:
vanity leads him to despise his equals; and refuse their guidance: envy of
superior fame or fortune (for such gifts are never equally distributed)
leads him to desire and rejoice in his neighbour's downfall。 (20) I need
not go through the whole list; everyone knows already how much crime。
results from disgust at the present … desire for change; headlong anger;
and contempt for poverty … and how men's minds are engrossed and kept
in turmoil thereby。
(17:21) To guard against all these evils; and form a dominion where no room
is left for deceit; to frame our institutions so that every man; whatever
his disposition; may prefer public right to private advantage; this is the
task and this the toil。 (22) Necessity is often the mother of invention; but
she has never yet succeeded in framing a dominion that was in less danger
from its own citizens than from open enemies; or whose rulers did not fear
the latter less than the former。 (23) Witness the state of Rome; invincible
by her enemies; but many times conquered and sorely oppressed by her own
citizens; especially in the war between Vespasian and Vitellius。 (24) (See
Tacitus; Hist。 bk。 iv。 for a description of the pitiable state of the city。)
(17:25) Alexander thought prestige abroad more easy to acquire than prestige
at home; and believed that his greatness could be destroyed by his own
followers。 (26) Fearing such a disaster; he thus addressed his friends:
〃Keep me safe from internal treachery and domestic plots; and I will front
without fear the dangers of battle and of war。 (27) Philip was more secure
in the battle array than in the theatre: he often escaped from the hands of
the enemy; he could not escape from his own subjects。 (28) If you think over
the deaths of kings; you will count up more who have died by the assassin
than by the open foe。〃 (Q。 Curtius; chap。 vi。)
(17:29) For the sake of making themselves secure; kings who seized the
throne in ancient times used to try to spread the idea that they were
descended from the immortal gods; thinking that if their subjects and the
rest of mankind did not look on them as equals; but believed them to be
gods; they would willingly submit to their rule; and obey their commands。
(30) Thus Augustus persuaded the Romans that he was descended from