________________________________________________
_ Having established these points, we proceed next to consider whether
one form of government only should be established, or more than one;
and if more, how many, and of what sort, and what are the differences
between them. The form of government is the ordering and regulating of
the city, and all the offices in it, particularly those wherein the
supreme power is lodged; and this power is always possessed by the
administration; but the administration itself is that particular form
of government which is established in any state: thus in a democracy
the supreme power is lodged in the whole people; on the contrary, in
an oligarchy it is in the hands of a few. We say then, that the form
of government in these states is different, and we shall find the same
thing hold good in others. Let us first determine for whose sake a
city is established; and point out the different species of rule which
man may submit to in social life.
I have already mentioned in my treatise on the management of a family,
and the power of the master, that man is an animal naturally formed
for society, and that therefore, when he does not want any foreign
assistance, he will of his own accord desire to live with others; not
but that mutual advantage induces them to it, as far as it enables
each person to live more agreeably; and this is indeed the great
object not only to all in general, but also to each individual: but it
is not merely matter of choice, but they join in society also, even
that they may be able to live, which probably is not without some
share of merit, and they also support civil society, even for the sake
of preserving life, without they are grievously overwhelmed with the
miseries of it: for it is very evident that men will endure many
calamities for the sake of living, as being something naturally sweet
and desirable. It is easy to point out the different modes of
government, and we have already settled them in our exoteric
discourses. The power of the master, though by nature equally
serviceable, both to the master and to the slave, yet nevertheless has
for its object the benefit of the master, while the benefit of the
slave arises accidentally; for if the slave is destroyed, the power of
the master is at an end: but the authority which a man has over his
wife, and children, and his family, which we call domestic government,
is either for the benefit of those who are under subjection, or else
for the common benefit of the whole: but its particular object is the
benefit of the governed, as we see in other arts; in physic, for
instance, and the gymnastic exercises, wherein, if any benefit [1279a]
arise to the master, it is accidental; for nothing forbids the master
of the exercises from sometimes being himself one of those who
exercises, as the steersman is always one of the sailors; but both the
master of the exercises and the steersman consider the good of those
who are under their government. Whatever good may happen to the
steersman when he is a sailor, or to the master of the exercises when
he himself makes one at the games, is not intentional, or the object
of their power; thus in all political governments which are
established to preserve and defend the equality of the citizens it is
held right to rule by turns. Formerly, as was natural, every one
expected that each of his fellow-citizens should in his turn serve the
public, and thus administer to his private good, as he himself when in
office had done for others; but now every one is desirous of being
continually in power, that he may enjoy the advantage which he makes
of public business and being in office; as if places were a
never-failing remedy for every complaint, and were on that account so
eagerly sought after.
It is evident, then, that all those governments which have a common
good in view are rightly established and strictly just, but those who
have in view only the good of the rulers are all founded on wrong
principles, and are widely different from what a government ought to
be, for they are tyranny over slaves, whereas a city is a community of
freemen. _
Read next: BOOK III: CHAPTER VII
Read previous: BOOK III: CHAPTER V
Table of content of Treatise on Government
GO TO TOP OF SCREEN
Post your review
Your review will be placed after the table of content of this book
