TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
WILLIAM, EARL OF NEWCASTLE,
GOVERNOR TO THE PRINCE HIS HIGHNESS,
ONE OF HIS MAJESTY’S MOST HONOURABLE PRIVY
COUNCIL. <...>
5
THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY
My most honoured Lord,
From the two principal parts of our nature, Reason and Passion, have proceeded two kinds of learning, mathematical and
dogmatical. <...> But in the later there is nothing not disputable, because it compareth men, and meddleth with their right and profit; in which, as
oft as reason is against a man, so oft will a man be against reason. <...> And from hence it cometh, that they that have written of
justice and policy in general, do all invade each other, and themselves, with contradiction. <...> To reduce this doctrine to the rules
and infallibility of reason, there is no way, but first to put such
principles down for a foundation, as passion not mistrusting,
may not seek to displace; and afterward to build thereon the truth
of cases in the law of nature (which hitherto have been built in
the air) by degrees, till the whole be inexpugnable. <...> Now (my
Lord) the principles fit for such a foundation, are those which I
have heretofore acquainted your Lordship withal in private discourse, and which by your command I have here put into
method. <...> To examine cases thereby between sovereign and sovereign, or between sovereign and subject, I leave to them that shall
find leisure and encouragement thereto. <...> But for the doctrine, it is not slightly proved; and the
conclusions thereof are of such nature, as, for want of them, government and peace have been nothing else to this day, but mutual
fear. <...> And it would be an incomparable benefit to commonwealth,
if every man held the opinions concerning law and policy here
delivered. <...> The ambition therefore of this book, in seeking by
your Lordship’s countenance to insinuate itself with those whom
the matter it containeth most nearly concerneth, is to be excused. <...> For myself, I desire no greater honour than I enjoy already in
your Lordship’s known favour; unless it be that you would be
Copyright ОАО <...>
The_elements_of_law_natural_and_politic.pdf
TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
WILLIAM, EARL OF NEWCASTLE,
GOVERNOR TO THE PRINCE HIS HIGHNESS,
ONE OF HIS MAJESTY’S MOST HONOURABLE PRIVY
COUNCIL.
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5
THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY
My most honoured Lord,
From the two principal parts of our nature, Reason and Passion,
have proceeded two kinds of learning, mathematical and
dogmatical. The former is free from controversies and dispute,
because it consisteth in comparing figures and motion only; in
which things truth and the interest of men oppose not each other.
But in the later there is nothing not disputable, because it compareth
men, and meddleth with their right and profit; in which, as
oft as reason is against a man, so oft will a man be against reason.
And from hence it cometh, that they that have written of
justice and policy in general, do all invade each other, and themselves,
with contradiction. To reduce this doctrine to the rules
and infallibility of reason, there is no way, but first to put such
principles down for a foundation, as passion not mistrusting,
may not seek to displace; and afterward to build thereon the truth
of cases in the law of nature (which hitherto have been built in
the air) by degrees, till the whole be inexpugnable. Now (my
Lord) the principles fit for such a foundation, are those which I
have heretofore acquainted your Lordship withal in private discourse,
and which by your command I have here put into
method. To examine cases thereby between sovereign and sovereign,
or between sovereign and subject, I leave to them that shall
find leisure and encouragement thereto. For my part, I present
this to your Lordship for the true and only foundation of such
science. For the style, it is therefore the worse, because I was
forced to consult when I was writing, more with logic than with
rhetoric. But for the doctrine, it is not slightly proved; and the
conclusions thereof are of such nature, as, for want of them, government
and peace have been nothing else to this day, but mutual
fear. And it would be an incomparable benefit to commonwealth,
if every man held the opinions concerning law and policy here
delivered. The ambition therefore of this book, in seeking by
your Lordship’s countenance to insinuate itself with those whom
the matter it containeth most nearly concerneth, is to be excused.
For myself, I desire no greater honour than I enjoy already in
your Lordship’s known favour; unless it be that you would be
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6
pleased, in continuance thereof, to give me more exercise in your
commands; which, as I am bound by your many great favours, I
shall obey, being,
My most honoured Lord,
Your Lordship’s most humble and obliged Servant,
Thomas Hobbes.
May 9, 1640.
Стр.4
PART I
CHAPTER 1
l, 2, 3. Preface. 4. Man’s nature. 5. Division of his faculties. 6.
Faculties of the body. 7. Faculties of the mind. 8. Power cognitive,
conceptions and imagery of the mind.
1. The true and perspicuous explication of the elements of
laws, natural and politic, which is my present scope, dependeth
upon the knowledge of what is human nature, what is a body
politic, and what it is we call a law. Concerning which points, as
the writings of men from antiquity downward have still increased,
so also have the doubts and controversies concerning
the same. And seeing that true knowledge begetteth not doubt
nor controversy, but knowledge; it is manifest from the present
controversies, that they which have heretofore written thereof,
have not well understood their own subject.
2. Harm I can do none, though I err no less than they. For I
shall leave men but as they are, in doubt and dispute. But intending
not take any principle upon trust, but only to put men in
mind of what they know already, or may know by their own experience,
I hope to err the less; and when I do, it must proceed
from too hasty concluding, which I will endeavour as much as I
can to avoid.
3. On the other side, if reasoning aright I win not consent
(which may very easily happen) from them that being confident
of their own knowledge weigh not what is said, the fault is not
mine but theirs. For as it is my part to show my reasons, so it is
theirs to bring attention.
4. Man’s nature is the sum of his natural faculties and powers,
as the faculties of nutrition, motion, generation, sense, reason,
&c. For these powers we do unanimously call natural, and
are contained in the definition of man, under these words, animal
and rational.
5. According to the two principal parts of man, I divide his
faculties into two sorts, faculties of the body, and faculties of the
mind.
6. Since the minute and distinct anatomy of the powers of
the body is nothing necessary to the present purpose, I will only
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