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
9. Furthermore, since it no less, nay, it much more conduceth to
peace, to prevent brawls from arising than to appease them being
risen; and that all controversies are bred from hence, that the
opinions of men differ concerning _meum_ and _tuum_, _just_ and
_unjust_, _profitable_ and _unprofitable_, _good_ and _evil_,
_honest_ and _dishonest_, and the like; which every man esteems
according to his own judgment: it belongs to the same chief power to
make some common rules for all men, and to declare them publicly, by
which every man may know what may be called his, what another’s,
what just, what unjust, what honest, what dishonest, what good, what
evil; that is summarily, what is to be done, what to be avoided in
our common course of life. But those rules and measures are usually
called the civil laws, or the laws of the city, as being the
commands of him who hath the supreme power in the city. And the
_civil laws_ (that we may define them) are nothing else but _the
commands of him who hath the chief authority in the city, for
direction of the future actions of his citizens_.
[Sidenote: That the naming of magistrates and officers belongs to
him also.]
10. Furthermore, since the affairs of the city, both those of war
and peace, cannot possibly be all administered by one man or one
council without officers and subordinate magistrates; and that it
appertaineth to peace and common defence, that they to whom it
belongs justly to judge of controversies, to search into
neighbouring councils, prudently to wage war, and on all hands
warily to attend the benefit of the city, should also rightly
exercise their offices; it is consonant to reason that they depend
on, and be chosen by him who hath the chief command both in war and
in peace.
[Sidenote: The examination of doctrine belongs to him likewise.]