:;.">S NATURAL AND POLITICAL 11IGHTS vm 



it is also entirely yours. The whole apple belongs 

 to each of you, and you have each a right to eat 

 the whole of it. Now, my boys, you may eat it, 

 so long as neither of you gives up any fraction of 

 the right I have given him nor infringes the other's 

 right." The boys, I take it, would be somewhat 

 puzzled. If their common sense, plus their 

 appetites, were stronger than their logical faculty, 

 they would probably suggest that they should 

 divide the apple and each eat half. But I should 

 have to say " No. You are violating my conditions 

 which were that you should neither of you give 

 up any portion of his right to the whole. The ar- 

 rangement you propose necessitates that John 

 should give up his right to one half, and Peter his 

 right to the other." Not improbably, my young 

 friends, if of English extraction, might propose 

 another way out of the difficulty ; namely, the 

 wager of battle. But again I should havu to 

 refuse. The trial by battle would unfortunately in- 

 volve the infringement of the natural rights of the 

 vanquished by the victor, which is, once more, con- 

 trary to my stipulation. In fact, under the con- 

 ditions stated, the apple would have to remain 

 uneaten. 



Thus we see once more, that the absolute 

 "natural rights" theory that is to say individ- 

 ualism pure and simple if carried out logically. 

 is merely reasoned savagery, utter and uninii 

 selfishness, incompatible with social 



