GUIDE TO THE PHILOSOPHY 1938 - 1947.pdf - Rare Books at ...

INTRODUCTION 9
theorising with a discussion of their social and political
implications. Part II treats, then, of ethics as an isolated
branch of enquiry from which, so far as possible, all
reference to politics is excluded.
Political Questions. Similarly, during the period of
three hundred years between the end of the Renaissance
and the nineteenth century, a number of writers were
treating of politics in more or less complete isolation from
ethics. What, they asked, is the origin of society, and from
what human needs does it spring? What are the principles
which underlie it? What, in the light of these principles,
is the best form of human society? Is it, for example, to be
found in the rule of one, autocracy; in the rule of a few,
aristocracy; or in the rule of all through their elected
representatives, democracy? If it is to be found in the rule
of the few, by reference to what qualifications should the
few be selected? If in the rule of all, by what methods are
the representatives of all to be chosen, and how far is it
either wise or possible for all to delegate their authority to
their representatives? Unless they delegate a substantial
amount, the representatives cannot, it is obvious, act
with the promptitude and assurance that effective government
demands. If they do delegate a substantial amount,
what guarantee have they that the representatives will not
abuse their authority? Is there in a community with
reference to every concrete situation a right or best thing to
be done, apart from what any person or body of persons
wishes to be done, or thinks ought to be done? What rights
has the individual in relation to the State, and what are
the limits of the authority of the State over the individual?
Can the State, be said to possess any authority except
such as is derived from the individuals who compose it;
or any rights other than those which they confer upon it
by consenting to belong to it? Why, in the last resort,
should the individual obey the state and co-operate in
running it? As in the case of the ethical questions, these
political questions have been discussed, as if they belonged
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