The Religion of Nature Delineated · Chapter
VII: Truths Respecting Particular Societies of Men, or Governments explained
This chapter examines the nature and purpose of human societies and governments, arguing that society is natural to man and its end is the common welfare.
What happens
This chapter examines the nature and purpose of human societies and governments, arguing that society is natural to man and its end is the common welfare. It establishes that societies require laws to govern members, secure property, and provide defense against foreign invasions. Laws must be consistent with natural justice and truth; any law that enacts injustice is morally evil and contrary to the Creator's will. The chapter also discusses the necessity of magistrates and subordination of powers for executing laws, and concludes that societies may lawfully wage war in self-defense, while condemning wars of ambition.
Themes in this chapter
Society and Government
The chapter extensively defines the nature, purpose, and structure of societies and governments, emphasizing laws, magistrates, and the common good.
Truth and Reason
Laws must be consistent with truth and natural justice; enacting injustice is equated with ordaining falsehood.
Property and Individual Rights
The protection of property is a central end of society, and laws are needed to ascertain and secure property rights.
Moral Good and Evil
Enacting unjust laws is described as morally evil, and the chapter ties justice to truth and the will of the Creator.
Characters to notice
- A Man
Referenced as the individual who, in a state of nature, may defend himself, and whose right to self-defense extends to confederated societies.
Key passages
“The end of society is the common welfare and good of the people associated.”
The purpose of forming a society is to promote the well-being and benefit of all its members.
This defines the fundamental goal of any society.
“To ordain anything that interferes with truth is the same as to ordain that what is true shall be false, or vice versa, which is absurd.”
Making a law that contradicts truth is like trying to declare that truth is falsehood, which is logically impossible.
Emphasizes that laws must be grounded in truth and natural justice.
“Guardians and executors of laws are therefore the vitals of a society, without which there can be no circulation of justice in it, no care of it taken, nor can it continue.”
Officials who enforce the laws are essential to a society; without them, justice cannot function and the society cannot survive.
Highlights the necessity of magistrates and law enforcement.
“Mutual defense is one of the great ends of society, if not the greatest, and in a particular and eminent manner involves in it defense against foreign enemies.”
Protecting each other from external threats is one of the most important purposes of society, especially defense against foreign attacks.
Justifies the right of a society to wage defensive war.