The Social Contract
Jean-Jacques RousseauEn Eski The Social Contract Gönderileri
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Man was born free, and everywhere he is in chains. Many a one believes himself the master of others, and yet he is a greater slave than they. How has this change come about? I do not know. What can make it legitimate? I believe I can settle this question.
As long as a people is compelled to obey and does obey, it does well; but that, as soon as it can shake off the yoke and does shake it off, it does even better; for, if men recover their freedom by virtue of the same right by which it was taken away, either they are justified in taking it back, or there was no justification for depriving them of it.
But the social order is a sacred right that serves as a foundation for all others.
Aristotle, before them all, had also said that men are not naturally equal, but that some are born to be slaves and others to rule.
Aristotle was right, but he mistook the effect for the cause. Every man born in slavery is born for slavery; nothing is more certain. Slaves lose everything in their chains, even the desire to escape from them…
If, then, there are slaves by nature, it is because there have been slaves contrary to nature. The first slaves were made by force; their cowardice kept them in bondage.
The strongest man is never strong enough to be always master, unless he transforms his power into right, and obedience into duty.
If one is compelled to obey by force, there is no need to obey from duty; and if one is no longer forced to obey, obligation is at an end.
Let us agree, then, that might does not make right, and that we are bound to obey none but lawful authorities.
But that some are born for slavery, and others for dominion.
Sayfa 9