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Single Idea 19940

[filed under theme 24. Political Theory / C. Ruling a State / 2. Leaders / b. Monarchy ]

Full Idea

It is dangerous to depose a monarch, even if it is clear by every criterion that he is a tyrant. A people accustomed to royal authority and held in check only by it, will despise any lesser authority and hold it in contempt.

Gist of Idea

Deposing a monarch is dangerous, because the people are used to royal authority

Source

Baruch de Spinoza (Tractatus Theologico-Politicus [1670], 18.07)

Book Ref

Spinoza,Benedict de: 'Theological-Political Treatise', ed/tr. Israel,Jonathan [CUP 2007], p.235

A Reaction

He is obviously thinking of Charles I and Cromwell. I suspect that the respect for Cromwell in the 1650s was only as a great soldier. If the people miss royal authority, the correct response is probably 'get over it!'

The 33 ideas from 'Tractatus Theologico-Politicus'

7487 Society exists to extend human awareness [Spinoza, by Watson]
7827 Spinoza wanted democracy based on individual rights, and is thus the first modern political philosopher [Stewart,M on Spinoza]
4300 The Bible has nothing in common with reasoning and philosophy [Spinoza]
19914 In nature everything has an absolute right to do anything it is capable of doing [Spinoza]
19915 Natural rights are determined by desire and power, not by reason [Spinoza]
19916 The order of nature does not prohibit anything, and allows whatever appetite produces [Spinoza]
19918 Forming a society meant following reason, and giving up dangerous appetites and mutual harm [Spinoza]
19917 Without reason and human help, human life is misery [Spinoza]
19919 People only give up their rights, and keep promises, if they hope for some greater good [Spinoza]
19921 Once you have given up your rights, there is no going back [Spinoza]
19920 Democracy is a legitimate gathering of people who do whatever they can do [Spinoza]
19923 Slavery is not just obedience, but acting only in the interests of the master [Spinoza]
19924 The freest state is a rational one, where people can submit themselves to reason [Spinoza]
19922 People are only free if they are guided entirely by reason [Spinoza]
19925 In democracy we don't abandon our rights, but transfer them to the majority of us [Spinoza]
19926 The sovereignty has absolute power over citizens [Spinoza]
19927 State and religious law can clash, so the state must make decisions about religion [Spinoza]
19928 No one, in giving up their power and right, ceases to be a human being [Spinoza]
19929 Everyone who gives up their rights must fear the recipients of them [Spinoza]
19930 Sovereignty must include the power to make people submit to it [Spinoza]
19931 Every state is more frightened of its own citizens than of external enemies [Spinoza]
19932 The early Hebrews, following Moses, gave up their rights to God alone [Spinoza]
19933 If religion is law, then piety is justice, impiety is crime, and non-believers must leave [Spinoza]
19934 Hebrews were very hostile to other states, who had not given up their rights to God [Spinoza]
19935 Peoples are created by individuals, not by nature, and only distinguished by language and law [Spinoza]
19937 Monarchs are always proud, and can't back down [Spinoza]
19936 Kings tend to fight wars for glory, rather than for peace and liberty [Spinoza]
19938 Allowing religious ministers any control of the state is bad for both parties [Spinoza]
19939 Government is oppressive if opinions can be crimes, because people can't give them up [Spinoza]
19940 Deposing a monarch is dangerous, because the people are used to royal authority [Spinoza]
19942 Treason may be committed as much by words as by deeds [Spinoza]
19943 The state aims to allow personal development, so its main purpose is freedom [Spinoza]
19944 Without liberty of thought there is no trust in the state, and corruption follows [Spinoza]