XI explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Consent and Voluntary Government

  The chapter directly attacks the pretense of establishing government by consent while presuming consent from those who have not given it.

• Presumption of Consent Imposed

  The central argument is that the government presumes consent of the governed without actual consent, comparing it to robbery and slavery.

Characters to notice

• a man

  The individual whose consent is presumed by the government, treated as a victim of usurpation.

• these men

  The usurpers who presume consent to justify their dominion over the weaker party.

Key passages

• “No attempt or pretence, that was ever carried into practical operation amongst civilized men—unless possibly the pretence of a 'Divine Right,' on the part of some, to govern and enslave others—embodied so much of shameless absurdity, falsehood, impudence, robbery, usurpation, tyranny, and villany of every kind, as the attempt or pretence of establishing a government by consent , and getting the actual consent of only so many as may be necessary to keep the rest in subjection by force.”

  The claim of establishing government by consent, while actually using force to subdue the majority, is the most absurd and villainous pretense ever practiced, except possibly the divine right of kings.

  The author condemns the hypocrisy of government by consent as a cover for coercion.

• “What substitute for their consent is offered to the weaker party, whose rights are thus annihilated, struck out of existence, by the stronger? Only this: Their consent is presumed!”

  The only justification offered to those whose rights are destroyed is that they are presumed to consent.

  Highlights the injustice of presuming consent without actual agreement.

• “As well might the highwayman pretend to justify himself by presuming that the traveller consents to part with his money.”

  This presumption is as absurd as a robber claiming the victim agreed to be robbed.

  Analogizes government presumption to criminal justification.