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Full Idea
[If we give 'tacit' assent to the state] ...we may as well assert that a man, by remaining in a vessel, freely consents to the dominion of the master, though he was carried aboard while asleep.
Gist of Idea
We no more give 'tacit assent' to the state than a passenger carried on board a ship while asleep
Source
David Hume (Of the original contract [1741], p.283)
Book Ref
Wolff,Jonathan: 'An Introduction to Political Philosophy (Rev)' [OUP 2006], p.43
A Reaction
We should probably drop the whole idea that we give assent to the state. We are stuck with a state, and a few of us can escape, if it seems important enough, but most of us have no choice. He hope to assent to the controllers of the state.
| 21099 | People must have agreed to authority, because they are naturally equal, prior to education [Hume] |
| 21100 | The idea that society rests on consent or promises undermines obedience [Hume] |
| 20495 | We no more give 'tacit assent' to the state than a passenger carried on board a ship while asleep [Hume] |
| 6703 | Poor people lack the knowledge or wealth to move to a different state [Hume] |
| 21101 | The people would be amazed to learn that government arises from their consent [Hume] |
| 21102 | We all know that the history of property is founded on injustices [Hume] |
| 21103 | Moral questions can only be decided by common opinion [Hume] |