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difficulty in arriving at a correct and satisfactory definition of the State, 

 the conception of which is extremely simple. 



Proceeding according to our logical rules, the first step— which is with- 

 out difficulty — is to determine the genus, or superior class of which Stales 

 constitute a species. This genus obviously consists of societies or associa- 

 tions of men. Of these some are natural — such as the family, the tribe, 

 the city, etc., and others voluntarily formed, or, as they may be called, 

 artificial, such as associations for business, charity, religion, or any oiher 

 purpose that men may desire to pursue in common. Here we have to do 

 with the former class only, or natural societies, and it will be understood 

 we always use the term in that sense. 



Of societies of this kind, there are numerous varieties, as for ex- 

 ample, single families, patriarchal families, or clans (gentes, y^'-'''}), village 

 communities, or wandering tribes, cities, or associations of villages, feuds, 

 and Slates composed of feuds, national Stales, or States of the modern 

 European type, empires, federal States, independent and subject States, 

 and many others ; and to complete our definition, our only task will be 

 to determine which of these shall be included, and which excluded, and 

 to ascertain the specific difference of the State accordingly. 



Here the first and most important difterence is between societies that 

 exist separately or independently, and those which form part of superior 

 associations. The latter are merged in the higher associations, of which 

 they become part, and thus cease to exist independently. This process 

 has, in the history of mankind, gone on naturally and inevitably until all 

 other associations have finally n>erged into and become part of a State; 

 and in this manner, as Aristotle lucidly explains, the natural generation of 

 the State has taken place. The State, therefore, is the only autonomous, 

 or independently existing human society, and this may be taken, there- 

 fore, as constituting the specific difference, or at least an element of the 

 specific difterence of the species we call the State. Whether any further 

 element is required to complete the definition is next to be considered. 



In defining a term we must, as far as possible, conform to usage ; but 

 the term " State, " as commonly used, varies somewhat in meaning, and 

 our definitions of it may, therefore, vary, accordingly as we give it a 

 greater or less extension. But in its most general sense the term may, 

 with propriety, be applied to all autonomous societies, and the State may, 

 therefore, be defined as an autonomous society of men. And this is the 

 sense in which I propose to use the term. 



Others, however, would restrict the definition so as to exclude some 

 socieiies of this kind. Thus, a late writer — founding his opinion upon 

 what I conceive to be a misinterpretation of the views of Aristotle — 

 would exclude from the definition of the State, the gens, the village com- 

 munity, the tribe, and in fact all other associations historically anterior 

 to the city.* 



* 7he City State, by W. Warde Fowler, M.A.. l<"ellow ami Sub Rector of Lincoln College, 

 Oxford. The mistake of Mr. Fowler results from bis not bearing in mind that the pecu- 

 liarsubject of Aristotle's treatise is the city (-(/AtV), and not the State generally. 



