The Religion of Nature Delineated · Chapter
VI: Truths Respecting Mankind in General, Antecedent to All Human Laws explained
This chapter establishes foundational truths about human nature and morality that exist prior to any human-made laws.
What happens
This chapter establishes foundational truths about human nature and morality that exist prior to any human-made laws. It argues that the general welfare of rational beings is the standard for moral good and evil, that individuals have equal dominion in a state of nature, and that self-defense and recovery of property are natural rights. It also discusses the nature of justice, covetousness, cruelty, and mercy, grounding moral obligations in truth and reason.
Themes in this chapter
Moral Good and Evil
The chapter defines moral evil as acting contrary to truth and the general good, and establishes the foundation of right and wrong based on reason and universal welfare.
Property and Individual Rights
Discusses natural rights to property, self-defense, and recovery of what is taken by force, asserting that these rights are antecedent to human laws.
Characters to notice
- A Man
The universal individual used to illustrate moral reasoning and natural rights.
Key passages
“If mankind may be said in general to be a rational animal, the general welfare of it must be the welfare of a rational nature: and therefore that, and the laws which advance it, must be founded in reason; nor can be opposed by anything but what is opposite to reason, and consequently to truth.”
Since humanity is rational, the common good must be a rational good, and the laws promoting it are based on reason; anything opposing them is against reason and truth.
Establishes the rational foundation of moral laws.
“In a state of nature, men are equal in respect of dominion.”
In the absence of society, all men have equal authority over one another.
Key principle of natural equality.
“Though no man can have a right to begin to interrupt another man’s happiness, or to hurt him; yet every man has a right to defend himself and his against violence, to recover what is taken by force from him, and even to make reprisals, by all the means that truth and prudence permit.”
No one may initiate harm to another, but everyone may defend themselves, reclaim stolen property, and retaliate within the bounds of truth and prudence.
Defines the natural right of self-defense and restitution.
“He who religiously regards truth and nature, will not only be not unjust, but (more) not unmerciful, and much less cruel.”
A person devoted to truth and nature will avoid injustice, and even more so will avoid being unmerciful or cruel.
Links moral virtue to adherence to truth and nature.