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Full Idea
In order to be good, the government must be relatively stronger in proportion as the populace is more numerous.
Gist of Idea
If the population is larger, the government needs to be more powerful
Source
Jean-Jacques Rousseau (The Social Contract (tr Cress) [1762], III.01)
Book Ref
Rousseau,Jean-Jacques: 'The Basic Political Writings', ed/tr. Cress,Donald A. [Hackett 1987], p.175
A Reaction
This could either imply a larger government, or more powerful laws for a fairly small government. Rousseau implies an almost mathematical law (of ratios) which determines the size of the government.
Related Idea
Idea 19822 If the state enlarges, the creators of the general will become less individually powerful [Rousseau]
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| 19993 | In small republics citizens identify with the public good, and abuses are fewer [Montesquieu] |
| 19992 | In a large republic there is too much wealth for individuals to manage it [Montesquieu] |
| 19814 | A state must be big enough to preserve itself, but small enough to be governable [Rousseau] |
| 19815 | Too much land is a struggle, producing defensive war; too little makes dependence, and offensive war [Rousseau] |
| 19822 | If the state enlarges, the creators of the general will become less individually powerful [Rousseau] |
| 19823 | If the population is larger, the government needs to be more powerful [Rousseau] |
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