for it is the business neither of the physician nor
the pilot to use either persuasion or force, the one
to his patients, the other to his passengers:
and yet many seem to think a despotic government is
a political one, and what they would not allow to
be just or proper, if exercised over themselves, they
will not blush to exercise over others; for they endeavour
to be wisely governed themselves, but think it of
no consequence whether others are so or not: but
a despotic power is absurd, except only where nature
has framed the one party for dominion, the other for
subordination; and therefore no one ought to assume
it over all in general, but those only which are the
proper objects thereof: thus no one should hunt
men either for food or sacrifice, but what is fit
for those purposes, and these are wild animals which
are eatable.
Now a city which is well governed might be very [1325a]
happy in itself while it enjoyed a good system of
laws, although it should happen to be so situated
as to have no connection with any other state, though
its constitution should not be framed for war or conquest;
for it would then have no occasion for these.
It is evident therefore that the business of war is
to be considered as commendable, not as a final end,
but as the means of procuring it. It is the duty
of a good legislator to examine carefully into his
state; and the nature of the people, and how they
may partake of every intercourse, of a good life,
and of the happiness which results from it: and
in this respect some laws and customs differ from
others. It is also the duty of a legislator,
if he has any neighbouring states to consider in what
manner he shall oppose each of them’ or what
good offices he shall show them. But what should
be the final end of the best governments will be considered
hereafter.
CHAPTER III
We will now speak to those who, while they agree that
a life of virtue is most eligible, yet differ in the
use of it addressing ourselves to both these parties;
for there are some who disapprove of all political
governments, and think that the life of one who is
really free is different from the life of a citizen,
and of all others most eligible: others again
think that the citizen is the best; and that it is
impossible for him who does nothing to be well employed;
but that virtuous activity and happiness are the same
thing. Now both parties in some particulars say
what is right, in others what is wrong, thus, that
the life of a freeman is better than the life of a
slave is true, for a slave, as a slave, is employed
in nothing honourable; for the common servile employments
which he is commanded to perform have nothing virtuous
in them; but, on the other hand, it is not true that
a submission to all sorts of governments is slavery;
for the government of freemen differs not more from
the government of slaves than slavery and freedom
differ from each other in their nature; and how they
Copyrights
Politics: A Treatise on Government from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.
