100 NOMOLOGY. 



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CHAPTER I. 



POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY. 



THE branch of Political Philosophy, may properly include all the- 

 ories and general views of Government; with a description of its 

 different forms, the principles on which they are founded, and the 

 modes in which they are administered. The name is derived from 

 the Greek, TtoAtj, a city or state ; whence also the term Politics, 

 already referred to. This study rests upon the basis of Natural Law, 

 or justice ; and therefore presupposes a knowledge of Ethics ; the 

 principles of which have already been explained. It requires also 

 enlarged and elevated views of human nature, and the constitution 

 of society ; with the means by which virtue may be diffused, justice 

 enforced, and order preserved, throughout the community. It is 

 alike important to the Statesman, who administers the affairs of a na- 

 tion; and to the Legislator, who is concerned in making or amending 

 the laws, though not directly engaged in their execution. 



The earliest works of value on this subject, were Plato's Republic, 

 and Aristotle's Treatise on Politics. Aristotle, and other ancient 

 writers, reduced all governments to one of the three forms, Democracy, 

 Aristocracy, and Despotism ; the only forms with which they were 

 acquainted. Cicero, in his work De Republica, endeavored to show 

 by what policy, morals, and resources, Rome had obtained the domi- 

 nion of the world ; and later writers have shown by what vices and 

 weaknesses she lost it. In modern times, Macchiavelli's work, enti- 

 tled The Prince, developes the various means of acquiring absolute 

 power : and whatever may have been its object, it affords much poli- 

 tical instruction. Montesquieu's Spirit of the Laws, published in 

 1748, is a work of much value on this branch of knowledge; in 

 which he regards all governments as either Republican, Monarchical, 

 or Despotic, and discusses very fully their principles and mechanism. 

 To this branch, in part, belong the great works of Grotius, Puffen- 

 dorf and Wolf, which treat largely of Natural Law ; though in con- 

 nection with the laws of nations. 



In England, Sir Robert Filmer's Patriarcha, published in 1680, 

 maintaining the divine right of kings, was the occasion of Sydney's 

 and Locke's masterly treatises, in defence of the rights of the people; 

 rights which had previously found a champion in Milton. Locke's 

 doctrine of an implied social compact, or consent of the people, as 

 the only legitimate source of power, though opposed by Mr. Hume, 

 has been gradually prevailing ; and in our own government has found 

 its full application. Waiving further reference to Rutherford, Fergu- 

 son, Bentham, and other later writers on this subject ; we have only 

 room to add that the principle of representation, by which the peo- 

 ple select legislators, as well as executive and judicial officers, to act 

 in their behalf, may we think be regarded as the greatest of modern 

 improvements in government, and the avenue to any further improve- 



