Enquiry Concerning Political Justice by William Godwin

Author:William Godwin [Godwin, William]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780241205488
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Published: 2015-07-02T00:00:00+00:00

IV

Of a Virtuous Despotism

Supposed excellence of this form of government controverted – from the narrowness of human powers. – Case of a vicious administration – of a virtuous administration intended to be formed. – Monarchy not adapted to the government of large states.

There is a principle, frequently maintained upon this subject,* which is entitled to impartial consideration. It is granted, by those who espouse it, ‘that absolute monarchy, from the imperfection of those by whom it is administered, is, for the most part, productive of evil’; but they assert, ‘that it is the best and most desirable of all forms under a good and virtuous prince. It is exposed,’ say they, ‘to the fate of all excellent natures, and, from the best thing, frequently, if corrupted, becomes the worst.’ This remark is certainly not very decisive of the general question, so long as any weight shall be attributed to the arguments which have been adduced to evince what sort of character and disposition may be ordinarily expected in princes. It may however be allowed, if true, to create in the mind of a sort of partial retrospect to this happy and perfect despotism; and, if it can be shown to be false, it will render the argument for the abolition of monarchy, so far as it is concerned, more entire and complete.

Now, whatever dispositions any man may possess in favour of the welfare of others, two things are necessary to give them validity; discernment and power. I can promote the welfare of a few persons, because I can be sufficiently informed of their circumstances. I can promote the welfare of many in certain general articles, because, for this purpose, it is only necessary that I should be informed of the nature of the human mind as such, not of the personal situation of the individuals concerned. But for one man to undertake to administer the affairs of millions, to supply, not general principles and perspicuous reasoning, but particular application, and measures adapted to the necessities of the moment, is of all undertakings the most extravagant and absurd.

The most simple and obvious system of practical administration is for each man to be the arbiter of his own concerns. If the imperfection, the narrow views, and the mistakes of human beings, render this, in certain cases, inexpedient and impracticable, the next resource is to call in the opinion of his peers, persons who, from their vicinity, may be presumed to have some general knowledge of the case, and who have leisure and means minutely to investigate the merits of the question. It cannot reasonably be doubted that the same expedient which is resorted to in our civil and criminal concerns would, by plain and uninstructed mortals, be adopted in the assessment of taxes, in the deliberations of commerce, and in every other article in which their common interests were involved, only generalizing the deliberative assembly, or panel, in proportion to the generality of the question to be decided.

Monarchy, instead of referring

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