The English works of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury, Volume 02 (of 11) — Thomas Hobbes — John Shaqi
The English works of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury, Volume 02 (of 11)
Thomas Hobbes · en
12. By what hath been said, it is sufficiently showed in what manner
and by what degrees many natural persons, through desire of
preserving themselves and by mutual fear, have grown together into a
civil person, whom we have called a _city_. But they who submit
themselves to another for fear, either submit to him whom they fear,
or some other whom they confide in for protection. They act
according to the first manner, who are vanquished in war, that they
may not be slain; they according to the second, who are not yet
overcome, that they may not be overcome. The first manner receives
its beginning from natural power, and may be called the natural
beginning of a city; the latter from the council and constitution of
those who meet together, which is a beginning by institution. Hence
it is that there are two kinds of cities; the one natural, such as
the paternal and despotical; the other institutive, which may be
also called political. In the first, the lord acquires to himself
such citizens as he will; in the other, the citizens by their own
wills appoint a lord over themselves, whether he be one man or one
company of men, endued with the command in chief. But we will speak,
in the first place, of a city political or by institution; and next,
of a city natural.
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CHAPTER VI.
OF THE RIGHT OF HIM, WHETHER COUNCIL OR ONE MAN
ONLY, WHO HATH THE SUPREME POWER IN THE CITY.
1. There can no right be attributed to a multitude out of civil
society, nor any action to which they have not under seal
consented. 2. The right of the greater number consenting, is the
beginning of a city. 3. That every man retains a right to
protect himself according to his own free will, so long as there
is no sufficient regard had to his security. 4. That a coercive
power is necessary to secure us. 5. What the sword of justice
is. 6. That the sword of justice belongs to him, who hath the
chief command. 7. That the sword of war belongs to him also. 8.
All judicature belongs to him too. 9. The legislative power is
his only. 10. The naming of magistrates and other officers of
the city belongs to him. 11 Also the examination of all
doctrines. 12. Whatsoever he doth is unpunishable. 13. That the
command his citizens have granted is absolute, and what
proportion of obedience is due to him. 14. That the laws of the
city bind him not. 15. That no man can challenge a propriety to
anything against his will. 16. By the laws of the city only we
come to know what theft, murder, adultery, and injury is. 17.
The opinion of those who would constitute a city, where there
should not be any one endued with an absolute power. 18. The
marks of supreme authority. 19. If a city be compared with a
man, he that hath the supreme power is in order to the city, as
the human soul is in relation to the man. 20.