Perpetual Peace: A Philosophical EssayKant, Immanuel
PhilosophyPhilosophy
Perpetual Peace: A Philosophical Essay
Kant, Immanuel
Peace
[5] See Hume’s account of the origin of government (_Treatise_,
III., Part II., Sect. VIII.). There are, he says, American
tribes “where men live in concord and amity among themselves
without any established government; and never pay submission
to any of their fellows, except in time of war, when their
captain enjoys a shadow of authority, which he loses after their
return from the field, and the establishment of peace with the
neighbouring tribes. This authority, however, instructs them in
the advantages of government, and teaches them to have recourse
to it, when either by the pillage of war, by commerce, or by any
fortuitous inventions, their riches and possessions have become
so considerable as to make them forget, on every emergence, the
interest they have in the preservation of peace and justice....
Camps are the true mothers of cities; and as war cannot be
administered, by reason of the suddenness of every exigency,
without some authority in a single person, the same kind of
authority naturally takes place in that civil government, which
succeeds the military.”
Cf. Cowper: _The Winter Morning Walk_:—
“. . . . . . . . . . . . . . and ere long,
When man was multiplied and spread abroad
In tribes and clans, and had begun to call
These meadows and that range of hills his own,
The tasted sweets of property begat
Desire of more; . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Thus wars began on earth. These fought for spoil,
And those in self-defence. Savage at first
The onset, and irregular. At length
One eminent above the rest, for strength,
For stratagem, or courage, or for all,
Was chosen leader. Him they served in war,
And him in peace for sake of warlike deeds
Rev’renced no less. . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Thus kings were first invented.”
[6] “Among uncivilised nations, there is but one profession
honourable, that of arms. All the ingenuity and vigour of the
human mind are exerted in acquiring military skill or address.”
Cf. Robertson’s _History of Charles V._, (_Works_, 1813, vol. V.)
Sect. I. vii.
_War in Classical Times._
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