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Single Idea 23157

[filed under theme 24. Political Theory / B. Nature of a State / 1. Purpose of a State ]

Full Idea

Government has a negative function, to prevent private violence, to protect life and property, to enact criminal law and secure its enforcement. It also has a positive purpose, to facilitate the realisation of desires common to most of the citizens.

Gist of Idea

Government has a negative purpose, to prevent trouble, and a positive aim of realising our desires

Source

Bertrand Russell (Authority and the Individual [1949], 2)

Book Ref

Russell,Bertrand: 'Authority and the Individual' [Unwin 1977], p.31

A Reaction

[compressed] Interesting because the second purpose is rarely cited. Governments improve communications, facilitate trade, and encourage health and education services, which we all want.

The 18 ideas from 'Authority and the Individual'

23154 We divide mankind into friend and foe, and cooperate with one and compete with the other [Russell]
23153 Gradually loyalty to a creed increased, which could even outweigh nationality [Russell]
23152 Increasingly war expands communities, and unifies them through fear [Russell]
23151 A monarch is known to everyone in the group, and can thus unite large groups [Russell]
23155 In early societies the leaders needed cohesion, but the rest just had to obey [Russell]
23156 The economic and political advantages of great size seem to have no upper limit [Russell]
23157 Government has a negative purpose, to prevent trouble, and a positive aim of realising our desires [Russell]
23160 Being a slave of society is hardly better than being a slave of a despot [Russell]
23162 Managers are just as remote from workers under nationalisation as under capitalism [Russell]
23158 Slavery began the divorce between the work and the purposes of the worker [Russell]
23161 Slaves can be just as equal as free people [Russell]
23159 Scarce goods may be denied entirely, to avoid their unequal distribution [Russell]
23164 Modern justice is seen as equality, apart from modest extra rewards for exceptional desert [Russell]
23165 Socialists say economic justice needs some state control of industries, and of foreign trade [Russell]
23168 A state is essential, to control greedy or predatory impulses [Russell]
23167 Power should be with smaller bodies, as long as it doesn't restrict central powers [Russell]
23163 In an anarchy universities, research, books, and even seaside holidays, would be impossible [Russell]
23166 In democracy we are more aware of being governed than of our tiny share in government [Russell]