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Single Idea 19932

[filed under theme 25. Social Practice / C. Rights / 3. Alienating rights ]

Full Idea

The Hebrews being in this natural state, they resolved, on the advice of Moses in whom they all had the greatest trust, to transfer their right to no mortal man but rather to God alone.

Gist of Idea

The early Hebrews, following Moses, gave up their rights to God alone

Source

Baruch de Spinoza (Tractatus Theologico-Politicus [1670], 17.07)

Book Ref

Spinoza,Benedict de: 'Theological-Political Treatise', ed/tr. Israel,Jonathan [CUP 2007], p.213


A Reaction

[He cites Exodus 24:7] He calls this the first Hebrew state, which seems to have depended heavily on Moses. Priests and prophets become crucial in this situation, and they may be in conflict about God's commands.


The 15 ideas with the same theme [people's choice to give up some rights]:

If we seek peace and defend ourselves, we must compromise on our rights [Hobbes]
Forming a society meant following reason, and giving up dangerous appetites and mutual harm [Spinoza]
People only give up their rights, and keep promises, if they hope for some greater good [Spinoza]
Once you have given up your rights, there is no going back [Spinoza]
In democracy we don't abandon our rights, but transfer them to the majority of us [Spinoza]
No one, in giving up their power and right, ceases to be a human being [Spinoza]
Everyone who gives up their rights must fear the recipients of them [Spinoza]
The early Hebrews, following Moses, gave up their rights to God alone [Spinoza]
We all own our bodies, and the work we do is our own [Locke]
There is only a civil society if the members give up all of their natural executive rights [Locke]
If we all give up all of our rights together to the community, we will always support one another [Rousseau]
In society man loses natural liberty, but gains a right to civil liberty and property [Rousseau]
We alienate to society only what society needs - but society judges that, not us [Rousseau]
In the contract people lose their rights, but immediately regain them, in the new commonwealth [Kant]
You can't make a contract renouncing your right to make contracts! [Kant]