Friday 3 January 2014

Herbert Spencer - Man Versus The State

'Be it or be it nor true that Man is shapen in iniquity and conceived in sin, it is unquestionably true that Government is begotten of aggression. In small undeveloped societies where for ages complete peace has continued, there exists nothing like what we call Government: no coercive agency, but mere honourary headship, if any headship at all. In these exceptional communities, unaggressive and from special causes, unaggressed  upon, there is little deviation from the virtues of truthfulness, honesty, justice, and generosity, that nothing beyond an occasional expression of public opinion by informally assembled elders is needful. Conversely, we find proofs that, at first recognised but temporarily during leadership of war, the authority of a chief is permanently installed, and grows strong where successful war ends in subjection of neighbouring tribes. And thence onwards, examples furnished by all the races put beyond doubt the truth, that the coercive power of the chief, developing into king, and king of kings (a frequent title in the East), becomes great in proportion as conquest becomes habitual and the union of subdued nations extensive.
Comparisons disclose a further truth which should be ever present to us - the truth that the aggressiveness of the ruling power inside a society increases with its aggressiveness outside the society.
As, to make an efficient army, the soldiers must be subordinate to their commander, so, to make an efficient fighting community must the citizens be subordinate to the extent demanded, and yield up whatever property is required.'

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