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Single Idea 21094

[from 'Of the First Principles of Government' by David Hume, in 25. Social Practice / C. Rights / 1. Basis of Rights ]

Full Idea

Right is of two kinds: right to power and right to property.

Gist of Idea

There are two kinds of right - to power, and to property

Source

David Hume (Of the First Principles of Government [1750], p.25)

Book Reference

Hume,David: 'Selected Essays' [OUP 1996], p.25


A Reaction

These seem to be positive rights. No mention of the right not be to unjustly abused. It is hard to find any sort of radical political thinking in Hume. His empirical scepticism extends to his politics. He approves of modern consitutional monarchy.

Related Idea

Idea 21097 Modern monarchies are (like republics) rule by law, rather than by men [Hume]