The State – a necessity or an enemy? Cover Image

The State – a necessity or an enemy?
The State – a necessity or an enemy?

Author(s): Jan Kłos
Subject(s): History, Philosophy, Government/Political systems
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego
Keywords: history; Hobbes; Locke; limitation; Ludwig von Mises; Nock; Poland; Spencer; State

Summary/Abstract: This paper seeks to show the State in its historical and analytical approaches. In view of history, we find two principal solutions. In this text they are called metaphysical and contractual. The metaphysical solution is characteristic of the pre-modern era with its Aristotelian claim that we carry the social principle in our human nature; the principle is the spawning ground for the State. Now, the contractual, i.e. the modern, approach defines the State as a result of human negotiation. Historically speaking, there have been many proposals along the spectrum from an overgrown institution to its, much atrophied, form. The author proposes a modest approach to our understanding of the State: it is needed from the well-being of social community. The condition, however, of this well-being is that the State be limited, allowing much space for its society to grow and form indispensable interrelations.

  • Issue Year: 2019
  • Issue No: 08
  • Page Range: 29-46
  • Page Count: 18
  • Language: English
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