The Analysis of Human Nature (Volume 2); Or, an Investigation of the Means to Improve the Condition of the Poor, and to Promote the Happiness of Mankind in General Comprising, Also, the Progress and Present State of Political, Moral, and Religious Society (Paperback)

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: 133 CHAP III. I On Government. ' ' - - ' -t ACCORDING to Aristotle, " men are, and always have been not only moral and social, but also political animals; in a great measure, dependent for their happiness and prosperity on the public institutions of their respective countries." That men are, and always have been dependent, for their happiness and prosperity, on the government and public institutions of their respective countries, may be fully admitted; but that they are, and always have been, moral and social beings, may probably, in a great measure, be doubted. The moral and social nature of man, in society, certainly depends upon the moral and social virtues which governments may establish, encourage, and refine. '! Aristotle maintained, that society and government are as congenial to the nature of man, as it is natural for a plant to fix its roots in the earth, extend its branches, and scatter its seeds. According to him, neither cunning, cowardly principles, nor benevolent moral reflections, ought to be involved in the solution of the question of politics; since the first political societies were as independent of human intelligence, and therefore of moral determination, as the instinctive actions of plants and insects, tending to the preservation of their respective kinds, are independent of any intelligence of their own, even when they move and operate conformably to the laws of the most consummate wisdom. Government then is coeval with society, and society with men. Both are the works of nature; and therefore, in explaining their origin, there cannot be the smallest ground for the fanciful supposition of engagements and compacts; pr that invisible th.ing, called the fundamental con-: tract of nations, which, as Bishop Stillingfleet observes, being no wher...