HI. DEPARTMENT: 



NOMOLOGY. 



IN the Department of Nomology, we include those branches of 

 knowledge which treat of Law, Legislation, and Government. The 

 name is derived from the Greek vopo$, law ; and it is used by Am- 

 pere, in his Classification of the Sciences, though in a more limited 

 sense. We include under Nomology, both Statesmanship and 

 Jurisprudence: the former comprehending the subjects of Govern- 

 ment and Legislation ; while the latter comprehends the study and 

 application of the Laws which result from the former. The term 

 Politics, properly signifying the science or principles of government, 

 is now, we think, too widely perverted, and too vaguely used, to be an 

 appropriate name for this department of knowledge. The studies 

 here included, aflbsd a wide range for reason and research; and rank 

 high in relative importance, as greatly contributing to the protection 

 of individuals, and the advancement of society. 



The term Law, from the Saxon laga, signifies in general a rule 

 of action, whether relating to animate or inanimate objects : but in 

 a technical sense, it may be defined, a rule of conduct ; prescribed 

 by the common consent of nations, to regulate their intercourse ; or 

 by the supreme power in a state, to define the civil rights and duties 

 of its officers and citizens, and of foreigners, when under its control. 

 The necessity for such laws arises chiefly from the tendency, both 

 of nations and individuals, to selfishness and injustice, when not 

 restrained by some efficient power or motive. They have therefore 

 adopted these rules as a standard of civil conduct ; the violation of 

 which is punished, in the case of individuals, by the judicial and 

 executive powers ; and among nations, by non-intercourse, by retalia- 

 tion, or too often by an appeal to arms, the last arguments of kings. 



As regards their immediate sources, Laws may be distinguished as 

 either Divine, or Human: the former emanating directly from the 

 will of God : the latter framed by men ; though they are wise and 

 safe only when they conform to the divine law. If History can 

 cite examples where human laws have conflicted with those of the 

 Deity, it can also prove that such laws have uniformly resulted in 

 misery, or destruction, to those who framed or adopted them. Natural 

 Law, depends on the principles of justice and expediency, already 

 alluded to in the branch of Ethics : and, next to the Divine Law, it 

 should form the basis of Legislation. Conventional Law, is that 

 which is mutually established by the parties concerned ; as in true 

 Republics : while Arbitrary Law, is that imposed on the weaker 

 party by the stronger ; as in Monarchies, and especially in Despo- 

 tisms. 



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