“ The sovereign cannot impose upon its subjects any fetters that are useless to the community, nor can it even wish to do so. ”
Bertrand Russell, A History of Western Philosophy (1945). copy citation
| Author | Bertrand Russell |
|---|---|
| Source | A History of Western Philosophy |
| Topic | community subject |
| Date | 1945 |
| Language | English |
| Reference | |
| Note | |
| Weblink | http://www.ntslibrary.com/PDF%20Books/History%20of%20Western%20Philosoph... |
Context
“It is true that, in a later chapter, there is some softening of this theory. It is there said that, although the social contract gives the body politic absolute power over all its members, nevertheless human beings have natural rights as men. The sovereign cannot impose upon its subjects any fetters that are useless to the community, nor can it even wish to do so. It is clear that only a very feeble obstacle is thus opposed to collective tyranny.
It should be observed that the “ sovereign ” means, in Rousseau, not the monarch or the government, but the community in its collective and legislative capacity.
” source
It should be observed that the “ sovereign ” means, in Rousseau, not the monarch or the government, but the community in its collective and legislative capacity.
” source
