第1章

INTRODUCTIONTOTHESCIENCEOFRIGHT。

GENERALDEFINITIONS,ANDDIVISIONS。

A。WhattheScienceofRightis。

TheScienceofRighthasforitsobjecttheprinciplesofallthelawswhichitispossibletopromulgatebyexternallegislation。Wherethereissuchalegislation,itbecomes,inactualapplicationtoit,asystemofpositiverightandlaw;andhewhoisversedintheknowledgeofthissystemiscalledajuristorjurisconsult(jurisconsultus)。Apracticaljurisconsult(jurisperitus),oraprofessionallawyer,isonewhoisskilledintheknowledgeofpositiveexternallaws,andwhocanapplythemtocasesthatmayoccurinexperience。Suchpracticalknowledgeofpositiveright,andlaw,mayberegardedasbelongingtojurisprudence(jurisprudentia)intheoriginalsenseoftheterm。Butthetheoreticalknowledgeofrightandlawinprinciple,asdistinguishedfrompositivelawsandempiricalcases,belongstothepurescienceofright(jurisscientia)。

Thescienceofrightthusdesignatesthephilosophicalandsystematicknowledgeoftheprinciplesofnaturalright。Anditisfromthissciencethattheimmutableprinciplesofallpositivelegislationmustbederivedbypracticaljuristsandlawgivers。

B。WhatisRight?

Thisquestionmaybesaidtobeaboutasembarrassingtothejuristasthewell—knownquestion,\"Whatistruth?\"istothelogician。Itisallthemoreso,if,onreflection,hestrivestoavoidtautologyinhisreplyandrecognisethefactthatareferencetowhatholdstruemerelyofthelawsofsomeonecountryataparticulartimeisnotasolutionofthegeneralproblemthusproposed。Itisquiteeasytostatewhatmayberightinparticularcases(quidsitjuris),asbeingwhatthelawsofacertainplaceandofacertaintimesayormayhavesaid;butitismuchmoredifficulttodeterminewhetherwhattheyhaveenactedisrightinitself,andtolaydownauniversalcriterionbywhichrightandwrongingeneral,andwhatisjustandunjust,mayberecognised。Allthismayremainentirelyhiddenevenfromthepracticaljuristuntilheabandonhisempiricalprinciplesforatimeandsearchinthepurereasonforthesourcesofsuchjudgements,inordertolayarealfoundationforactualpositivelegislation。Inthissearch,hisempiricallawsmay,indeed,furnishhimwithexcellentguidance;butamerelyempiricalsystemthatisvoidofrationalprinciplesis,likethewoodenheadinthefableofPhaedrus,fineenoughinappearance,butunfortunatelyitwantsbrain。

1。Theconceptionofright—asreferringtoacorrespondingobligationwhichisthemoralaspectofit—inthefirstplace,hasregardonlytotheexternalandpracticalrelationofonepersontoanother,insofarastheycanhaveinfluenceuponeachother,immediatelyormediately,bytheiractionsasfacts。2。Inthesecondplace,theconceptionofrightdoesnotindicatetherelationoftheactionofanindividualtothewishorthemeredesireofanother,asinactsofbenevolenceorofunkindness,butonlytherelationofhisfreeactiontothefreedomofactionoftheother。

3。And,inthethirdplace,inthisreciprocalrelationofvoluntaryactions,theconceptionofrightdoesnottakeintoconsiderationthematterofthematteroftheactofwillinsofarastheendwhichanyonemayhaveinviewinwillingitisconcerned。Inotherwords,itisnotaskedinaquestionofrightwhetheranyoneonbuyinggoodsforhisownbusinessrealizesaprofitbythetransactionornot;

butonlytheformofthetransactionistakenintoaccount,inconsideringtherelationofthemutualactsofwill。Actsofwillorvoluntarychoicearethusregardedonlyinsofarastheyarefree,andastowhethertheactionofonecanharmonizewiththefreedomofanother,accordingtoauniversallaw。

Right,therefore,comprehendsthewholeoftheconditionsunderwhichthevoluntaryactionsofanyonepersoncanbeharmonizedinrealitywiththevoluntaryactionsofeveryotherperson,accordingtoauniversallawoffreedom。

C。UniversalPrincipleofRight。

\"Everyactionisrightwhichinitself,orinthemaximonwhichitproceeds,issuchthatitcancoexistalongwiththefreedomofthewillofeachandallinaction,accordingtoauniversallaw。\"

If,then,myactionormyconditiongenerallycancoexistwiththefreedomofeveryother,accordingtoauniversallaw,anyonedoesmeawrongwhohindersmeintheperformanceofthisaction,orinthemaintenanceofthiscondition。Forsuchahindranceorobstructioncannotcoexistwithfreedomaccordingtouniversallaws。

Itfollowsalsothatitcannotbedemandedasamatterofright,thatthisuniversalprincipleofallmaximsshallitselfbeadoptedasmymaxim,thatis,thatIshallmakeitthemaximofmyactions。Foranyonemaybefree,althoughhisfreedomisentirelyindifferenttome,orevenifIwishedinmyhearttoinfringeit,solongasIdonotactuallyviolatethatfreedombymyexternalaction。Ethics,however,asdistinguishedfromjurisprudence,imposesuponmetheobligationtomakethefulfillmentofrightamaximofmyconduct。

Theuniversallawofrightmaythenbeexpressedthus:\"Actexternallyinsuchamannerthatthefreeexerciseofthywillmaybeabletocoexistwiththefreedomofallothers,accordingtoauniversallaw。\"Thisisundoubtedlyalawwhichimposesobligationuponme;butitdoesnotatallimplyandstilllesscommandthatI

ought,merelyonaccountofthisobligation,tolimitmyfreedomtotheseveryconditions。Reasoninthisconnectionsaysonlythatitisrestrictedthusfarbyitsidea,andmaybelikewisethuslimitedinfactbyothers;anditlaysthisdownasapostulatewhichisnotcapableoffurtherproof。Astheobjectinviewisnottoteachvirtue,buttoexplainwhatrightis,thusfarthelawofright,asthuslaiddown,maynotandshouldnotberepresentedasamotive—principleofaction。

D。RightisConjoinedwiththeTitleorAuthoritytoCompel。

Theresistancewhichisopposedtoanyhindranceofaneffectisinrealityafurtheranceofthiseffectandisinaccordancewithitsaccomplishment。Now,everythingthatiswrongisahindranceoffreedom,accordingtouniversallaws;andcompulsionorconstraintofanykindisahindranceorresistancemadetofreedom。

Consequently,ifacertainexerciseoffreedomisitselfahindranceofthefreedomthatisaccordingtouniversallaws,itiswrong;andthecompulsionofconstraintwhichisopposedtoitisright,asbeingahinderingofahindranceoffreedom,andasbeinginaccordwiththefreedomwhichexistsinaccordancewithuniversallaws。Hence,accordingtothelogicalprincipleofcontradiction,allrightisaccompaniedwithanimpliedtitleorwarranttobringcompulsiontobearonanyonewhomayviolateitinfact。

E。StrictRightmaybealsoRepresentedasthePossibilityofaUniversalReciprocalCompulsioninharmonywiththeFreedomofAllaccordingtoUniversalLaws。

Thispropositionmeanstherightisnottoberegardedascomposedoftwodifferentelements—obligationaccordingtoalaw,andatitleonthepartofonewhohasboundanotherbyhisownfreechoicetocompelhimtoperform。Butitimportsthattheconceptionofrightmaybeviewedasconsistingimmediatelyinthepossibilityofauniversalreciprocalcompulsion,inharmonywiththefreedomofall。

Asrightingeneralhasforitsobjectonlywhatisexternalinactions,strictright,asthatwithwhichnothingethicalisintermingled,requiresnoothermotivesofactionthanthosethataremerelyexternal;foritisthenpurerightandisunmixedwithanyprescriptionsofvirtue。Astrictright,then,intheexactsenseoftheterm,isthatwhichalonecanbecalledwhollyexternal。Nowsuchrightisfounded,nodoubt,upontheconsciousnessoftheobligationofeveryindividualaccordingtothelaw;butifitistobepureassuch,itneithermaynorshouldrefertothisconsciousnessasamotivebywhichtodeterminethefreeactofthewill。Forthispurpose,however,itfoundsupontheprincipleofthepossibilityofanexternalcompulsion,suchasmaycoexistwiththefreedomofeveryoneaccordingtouniversallaws。Accordingly,then,whereitissaidthatacreditorhasarighttodemandfromadebtorthepaymentofhisdebt,thisdoesnotmeanmerelythathecanbringhimtofeelinhismindthatreasonobligeshimtodothis;butitmeansthathecanapplyanexternalcompulsiontoforceanysuchonesotopay,andthatthiscompulsionisquiteconsistentwiththefreedomofall,includingthepartiesinquestion,accordingtoauniversallaw。Rightandthetitletocompel,thusindicatethesamething。

Thelawofright,asthusenunciated,isrepresentedasareciprocalcompulsionnecessarilyinaccordancewiththefreedomofeveryone,undertheprincipleofauniversalfreedom。Itisthus,asitwere,arepresentativeconstructionoftheconceptionofright,byexhibitingitinapureintuitiveperceptionapriori,aftertheanalogyofthepossibilityofthefreemotionsofbodiesunderthephysicallawoftheequalityofactionandreaction。Now,asinpuremathematics,wecannotdeducethepropertiesofitsobjectsimmediatelyfromamereabstractconception,butcanonlydiscoverthembyfigurativeconstructionorrepresentationofitsconceptions;soitisinlikemannerwiththeprincipleofright。Itisnotsomuchthemereformalconceptionofright,butratherthatofauniversalandequalreciprocalcompulsionasharmonizingwithit,andreducedundergenerallaws,thatmakesrepresentationofthatconceptionpossible。Butjustasthoseconceptionspresentedindynamicsarefoundeduponamerelyformalrepresentationofpuremathematicsaspresentedingeometry,reasonhastakencarealsotoprovidetheunderstandingasfaraspossiblewithintuitivepresentationsaprioriinbehoofofaconstructionoftheconceptionofright。Therightingeometricallines(rectum)isopposed,asthestraight,tothatwhichiscurvedandtothatwhichisoblique。Inthefirstopposition,thereisinvolvedaninnerqualityofthelinesofsuchanaturethatthereisonlyonestraightorrightlinepossiblebetweentwogivenpoints。Inthesecondcase,again,thepositionsoftwointersectingormeetinglinesareofsuchanaturethattherecanlikewisebeonlyonelinecalledtheperpendicular,whichisnotmoreinclinedtotheonesidethantheother,anditdividesspaceoneithersideintotwoequalparts。Afterthemannerofthisanalogy,thescienceofrightaimsatdeterminingwhateveryoneshallhaveashisownwithmathematicalexactness;butthisisnottobeexpectedintheethicalscienceofvirtue,asitcannotbutallowacertainlatitudeforexceptions。But,withoutpassingintothesphereofethics,therearetwocases—knownastheequivocalrightofequityandnecessity—whichclaimajuridicaldecision,yetforwhichnoonecanbefoundtogivesuchadecision,andwhich,asregardstheirrelationtorights,belong,asitwere,tothe\"Intermundia\"

ofEpicurus。Thesewemustattheoutsettakeapartfromthespecialexpositionofthescienceofright,towhichwearenowabouttoadvance;andwemayconsiderthemnowbywayofsupplementtotheseintroductoryexplanations,inorderthattheiruncertainconditionsmaynotexertadisturbinginfluenceonthefixedprinciplesoftheproperdoctrineofright。

F。SupplementaryRemarksonEquivocalRight。

(JusAequivocum)。

Witheveryright,inthestrictacceptation(jusstrictum),thereisconjoinedarighttocompel。Butitispossibletothinkofotherrightsofawiderkind(juslatum)inwhichthetitletocompelcannotbedeterminedbyanylaw。Nowtherearetworealorsupposedrightsofthiskind—equityandtherightofnecessity。Thefirstallegesarightthatiswithoutcompulsion;thesecondadoptsacompulsionthatiswithoutright。Thisequivocalness,however,canbeeasilyshowntorestonthepeculiarfactthattherearecasesofdoubtfulright,forthedecisionofwhichnojudgecanbeappointed。

I。Equity。

Equity(aequitas),regardedobjectively,doesnotproperlyconstituteaclaimuponthemoraldutyofbenevolenceorbeneficenceonthepartofothers;butwhoeverinsistsuponanythingonthegroundofequity,foundsuponhisrighttothesame。Inthiscase,however,theconditionsareawantingthatarerequisiteforthefunctionofajudgeinorderthatbemightdeterminewhatorwhatkindofsatisfactioncanbedonetothisclaim。Whenoneofthepartnersofamercantilecompany,formedundertheconditionofequalprofits,has,however,donemorethantheothermembers,andinconsequencehasalsolostmore,itisinaccordancewithequitythatheshoulddemandfromthecompanymorethanmerelyanequalshareofadvantagewiththerest。But,inrelationtostrictright—ifwethinkofajudgeconsideringhiscase—hecanfurnishnodefinitedatatoestablishhowmuchmorebelongstohimbythecontract;andincaseofanactionatlaw,suchademandwouldberejected。Adomesticservant,again,whomightbepaidhiswagesduetotheendofhisyearofserviceinacoinagethatbecamedepreciatedwithinthatperiod,sothatitwouldnotbeofthesamevaluetohimasitwaswhenheenteredonhisengagement,cannotclaimbyrighttobekeptfromlossonaccountoftheunequalvalueofthemoneyifhereceivesthedueamountofit。Hecanonlymakeanappealonthegroundofequity,—

adumbgoddesswhocannotclaimabearingofright,—becausetherewasnothingbearingonthispointinthecontractofservice,andajudgecannotgiveadecreeonthebasisofvagueorindefiniteconditions。

Henceitfollows,thatacourtofequity,forthedecisionofdisputedquestionsofright,wouldinvolveacontradiction。Itisonlywherehisownproperrightsareconcerned,andinmattersinwhichhecandecide,thatajudgemayoroughttogiveahearingtoequity。Thus,iftheCrownissupplicatedtogiveanindemnitytocertainpersonsforlossorinjurysustainedinitsservice,itmayundertaketheburdenofdoingso,although,accordingtostrictright,theclaimmightberejectedonthegroundofthepretextthatthepartiesinquestionundertooktheperformanceoftheserviceoccasioningtheloss,attheirownrisk。

Thedictumofequitymaybeputthus:\"Thestrictestrightisthegreatestwrong\"(summumjussummainjuria)。Butthisevilcannotbeobviatedbytheformsofright,althoughitrelatestoamatterofright;forthegrievancethatitgivesrisetocanonlybeputbeforea\"courtofconscience\"(forumpoli),whereaseveryquestionofrightmustbetakenbeforeacivilcourt(forumsoli)。

II。TheRightofNecessity。

Theso—calledrightofnecessity(jusnecessitatis)isthesupposedrightortitle,incaseofthedangeroflosingmyownlife,totakeawaythelifeofanotherwhohas,infact,donemenoharm。Itisevidentthat,viewedasadoctrineofright,thismustinvolveacontradiction,Forthisisnotthecaseofawrongfulaggressormakinganunjustassaultuponmylife,andwhomIanticipatebydeprivinghimofhisown(jusinculpataetutelae);norconsequentlyisitaquestionmerelyoftherecommendationofmoderationwhichbelongstoethicsasthedoctrineofvirtue,andnottojurisprudenceasthedoctrineofright。Itisaquestionoftheallowablenessofusingviolenceagainstonewhohasusednoneagainstme。

Itisclearthattheassertionofsucharightisnottobeunderstoodobjectivelyasbeinginaccordancewithwhatalawwouldprescribe,butmerelysubjectively,asproceedingontheassumptionofhowasentencewouldbepronouncedbyacourtinthecase。Therecan,infact,benocriminallawassigningthepenaltyofdeathtoamanwho,whenshipwreckedandstrugglinginextremedangerforhislife,andinordertosaveit,maythrustanotherfromaplankonwhichhehadsavedhimself。Forthepunishmentthreatenedbythelawcouldnotpossiblyhavegreaterpowerthanthefearofthelossoflifeinthecaseinquestion。Suchapenallawwouldthusfailaltogethertoexerciseitsintendedeffect;forthethreatofanevilwhichisstilluncertain—suchasdeathbyajudicialsentence—

couldnotovercomethefearofanevilwhichiscertain,asdrowningisinsuchcircumstances。Anactofviolentself—preservation,then,oughtnottobeconsideredasaltogetherbeyondcondemnation(inculpabile);itisonlytobeadjudgedasexemptfrompunishment(impunibile)。Yetthissubjectiveconditionofimpunity,byastrangeconfusionofideas,hasbeenregardedbyjuristsasequivalenttoobjectivelawfulness。

Thedictumoftherightofnecessityisputintheseterms:

\"Necessityhasnolaw\"(Necessitasnonhabetlegem)。Andyettherecannotbeanecessitythatcouldmakewhatiswronglawful。

Itisapparent,then,thatin。judgementsrelatingbothto\"equity\"and\"therightofnecessity,\"theequivocationsinvolvedarisefromaninterchangeoftheobjectiveandsubjectivegroundsthatenterintotheapplicationoftheprinciplesofright,whenviewedrespectivelybyreasonorbyajudicialtribunal。Whatonemayhavegoodgroundsforrecognisingasright,initself,maynotfindconfirmationinacourtofjustice;andwhathemustconsidertobewrong,initself,mayobtainrecognitioninsuchacourt。Andthereasonofthisisthattheconceptionofrightisnottakeninthetwocasesinoneandthesamesense。

DIVISION

DIVISIONOFTHESCIENCEOFRIGHT。

A。GeneralDivisionoftheDutiesofRight。

(JuridicalDuties)。

InthisdivisionwemayveryconvenientlyfollowUlpian,ifhisthreeformulaearetakeninageneralsense,whichmaynothavebeenquiteclearlyinhismind,butwhichtheyarecapableofbeingdevelopedintoorofreceiving。Theyarethefollowing:

1。Honestevive。\"Liverightly。\"juridicalrectitude,orhonour(honestasjuridica),consistsinmaintainingone’sownworthasamaninrelationtoothers。Thisdutymayberenderedbytheproposition:\"Donotmakethyselfameremeansfortheuseofothers,butbetothemlikewiseanend。\"Thisdutywillbeexplainedinthenextformulaasanobligationarisingoutoftherightofhumanityinourownperson(lexjusti)。

2。Neminemlaede。\"Dowrongtonoone。\"Thisformulamayberenderedsoastomean:\"Donowrongtoanyone,evenifthoushouldstbeunderthenecessity,inobservingthisduty,toceasefromallconnectionwithothersandtoavoidallsociety\"(lexjuridica)。

3。Suumcuiquetribue。\"Assigntoeveryonewhatishisown。\"Thismayberendered,\"Enter,ifwrongcannotbeavoided,intoasocietywithothersinwhicheveryonemayhavesecuredtohimwhatishisown。\"Ifthisformulaweretobesimplytranslated,\"Giveeveryonehisown,\"itwouldexpressanabsurdity,forwecannotgiveanyonewhathealreadyhas。Ifitistohaveadefinitemeaning,itmustthereforerunthus:\"Enterintoastateinwhicheveryonecanhavewhatishisownsecuredagainsttheactionofeveryother\"(lexjustitiae)。

Thesethreeclassicalformulae,atthesametime,representprincipleswhichsuggestadivisionofthesystemofjuridicaldutiesintointernalduties,externalduties,andthoseconnectingdutieswhichcontainthelatterasdeducedfromtheprincipleoftheformerbysubsumption。

B。UniversalDivisionofRights。

I。NaturalRightandPositiveRight。Thesystemofrights,viewedasascientificsystemofdoctrines,isdividedintonaturalrightandpositiveright。Naturalrightrestsuponpurerationalprinciplesapriori;positiveorstatutoryrightiswhatproceedsfromthewillofalegislator。

II。InnateRightandAcquiredRight。Thesystemofrightsmayagainberegardedinreferencetotheimpliedpowersofdealingmorallywithothersasboundbyobligations,thatis,asfurnishingalegaltitleofactioninrelationtothem。Thusviewed,thesystemisdividedintoinnaterightandacquiredright。Innaterightisthatrightwhichbelongstoeveryonebynature,independentofalljuridicalactsofexperience。Acquiredrightisthatrightwhichisfoundeduponsuchjuridicalacts。

Innaterightmayalsobecalledthe\"internalmineandthine\"

(meumveltuuminternum)forexternalrightmustalwaysbeacquired。

ThereisonlyoneInnateRight,theBirthrightofFreedom。

Freedomisindependenceofthecompulsorywillofanother;andinsofarasitcancoexistwiththefreedomofallaccordingtoauniversallaw,itistheonesoleoriginal,inbornrightbelongingtoeverymaninvirtueofhishumanity。Thereis,indeed,aninnateequalitybelongingtoeverymanwhichconsistsinhisrighttobeindependentofbeingboundbyotherstoanythingmorethanthattowhichhemayalsoreciprocallybindthem。Itis,consequently,theinbornqualityofeverymaninvirtueofwhichheoughttobehisownmasterbyright(suijuris)。Thereis,also,thenaturalqualityofjustnessattributabletoamanasnaturallyofunimpeachableright(justi),becausebehasdonenowrongtoanyonepriortohisownjuridicalactions。And,further,thereisalsotheinnaterightofcommonactiononthepartofeveryman,sothathemaydotowardsotherswhatdoesnotinfringetheirrightsortakeawayanythingthatistheirsunlesstheyarewillingtoappropriateit;suchmerelytocommunicatethought,tonarrateanything,ortopromisesomethingwhethertrulyandhonestly,oruntrulyanddishonestly(veriloquimautfalsiloquim),foritrestsentirelyupontheseotherswhethertheywillbelieveortrustinitornot。*Butalltheserightsortitlesarealreadyincludedintheprincipleofinnatefreedom,andarenotreallydistinguishedfromit,evenasdividingmembersunderahigherspeciesofright。

*Itiscustomarytodesignateeveryuntruththatisspokenintentionallyassuch,althoughitmaybeinafrivolousmanneralie,orfalsehood(mendacium),becauseitmaydoharm,atleastinsofarasanyonewhorepeatsitingoodfaithmaybemadealaughing—stockoftoothersonaccountofhiseasycredulity。Butinthejuridicalsense,onlythatuntruthiscalledaliewhichimmediatelyinfringestherightofanother,suchasafalseallegationofacontracthavingbeenconcluded,whentheallegationisputforwardinordertodeprivesomeoneofwhatishis(falsiloquimdolosum)。Thisdistinctionofconceptionssocloselyalliedisnotwithoutfoundation;becauseontheoccasionofasimplestatementofone’sthoughts,itisalwaysfreeforanothertotakethemashemay;andyettheresultingrepute,thatsuchaoneisamanwhosewordcannotbetrusted,comessoclosetotheopprobriumofdirectlycallinghimaliar,thattheboundary—lineseparatingwhat,insuchacase,belongstojurisprudence,andwhatisspecialtoethics,canhardlybeotherwisedrawn。

Thereasonwhysuchadivisionintoseparaterightshasbeenintroducedintothesystemofnaturalright,viewedasincludingallthatisinnate,wasnotwithoutapurpose。Itsobjectwastoenableprooftobemorereadilyputforwardincaseofanycontroversyarisingaboutanacquiredright,andquestionsemergingeitherwithreferencetoafactthatmightbeindoubt,or,ifthatwereestablished,inreferencetoarightunderdispute。Forthepartyrepudiatinganobligation,andonwhomtheburdenofproof(onusprobandi)mightbeincumbent,couldthusmethodicallyrefertohisinnaterightoffreedomasspecifiedundervariousrelationsindetail,andcouldthereforefounduponthemequallyasdifferenttitlesofright。

Intherelationofinnateright,andconsequentlyoftheinternalmineandthine,thereisthereforenotrights,butonlyoneright。

And,accordingly,thishighestdivisionofrightsintoinnateandacquired,whichevidentlyconsistsoftwomembersextremelyunequalintheircontentsisproperlyplacedintheintroduction;andthesubdivisionsofthescienceofrightmaybereferredindetailtotheexternalmineandthine。

C。MethodicalDivisionoftheScienceofRight。

Thehighestdivisionofthesystemofnaturalrightshouldnotbe—

asitisfrequentlyput—into\"naturalright\"and\"socialright,\"

butintonaturalrightandcivilright。Thefirstconstitutesprivateright;thesecond,publicright。Foritisnotthe\"socialstate\"butthe\"civilstate\"thatisopposedtothe\"stateofnature\";

forinthe\"stateofnature\"theremaywellbesocietyofsomekind,butthereisno\"civil\"society,asaninstitutionsecuringthemineandthinebypubliclaws。Itisthusthatright,viewedunderreferencetothestateofnature,isspeciallycalledprivateright。

Thewholeoftheprinciplesofrightwillthereforefalltobeexpoundedunderthetwosubdivisionsofprivaterightandpublicright。

CH1

FIRSTPART。PRIVATERIGHT。

TheSystemofthoseLawsWhichRequireNoExternalPromulgation。

CHAPTERI。OftheModeofHavingAnythingExternalasOne’sOwn。

1。TheMeaningof\"Mine\"inRight(MeumJuris)。

Anythingis\"Mine\"byright,orisrightfullymine,whenIamsoconnectedwithit,thatifanyotherpersonshouldmakeuseofitwithoutmyconsent,hewoulddomealesionorinjury。Thesubjectiveconditionoftheuseofanythingispossessionofit。

Anexternalthing,howeverassuchcouldonlybemine,ifImayassumeittobepossiblethatIcanbewrongedbytheusewhichanothermightmakeofitwhenitisnotactuallyinmypossession。

Henceitwouldbeacontradictiontohaveanythingexternalasone’sown,werenottheconceptionofpossessioncapableoftwodifferentmeanings,assensiblepossessionthatisperceivablebythesenses,andrationalpossessionthatisperceivableonlybytheintellect。

Bytheformeristobeunderstoodaphysicalpossession,andbythelatter,apurelyjuridicalpossessionofthesameobject。

Thedescriptionofanobjectas\"externaltome\"maysignifyeitherthatitismerely\"differentanddistinctfrommeasasubject,\"orthatitisalso\"athingplacedoutsideofme,andtobefoundelsewhereinspaceortime。\"Takeninthefirstsense,thetermpossessionsignifiesrationalpossession;and,inthesecondsense,itmustmeanempiricalpossession。Arationalorintelligiblepossession,ifsuchbepossible,ispossessionviewedapartfromphysicalholdingordetention(detentio)。

2。JuridicalPostulateofthePracticalReason。

Itispossibletohaveanyexternalobjectofmywillasmine。Inotherwords,amaximtothiseffect—wereittobecomelaw—thatanyobjectonwhichthewillcanbeexertedmustremainobjectivelyinitselfwithoutanowner,asresnullius,iscontrarytotheprincipleofright。

Foranobjectofanyactofmywill,issomethingthatitwouldbephysicallywithinmypowertouse。Now,supposetherewerethingsthatbyrightshouldabsolutelynotbeinourpower,or,inotherwords,thatitwouldbewrongorinconsistentwiththefreedomofall,accordingtouniversallaw,tomakeuseofthem。Onthissupposition,freedomwouldsofarbedeprivingitselfoftheuseofitsvoluntaryactivity,inthusputtinguseableobjectsoutofallpossibilityofuse。Inpracticalrelations,thiswouldbetoannihilatethem,bymakingthemresnullius,notwithstandingthefactactactsofwillinrelationtosuchthingswouldformallyharmonize,intheactualuseofthem,withtheexternalfreedomofallaccordingtouniversallaws。Nowthepurepracticalreasonlaysdownonlyformallawsasprinciplestoregulatetheexerciseofthewill;

andthereforeabstractsfromthematteroftheactofwill,asregardstheotherqualitiesoftheobject,whichisconsideredonlyinsofarasitisanobjectoftheactivityofthewill。Hencethepracticalreasoncannotcontain,inreferencetosuchanobject,anabsoluteprohibitionofitsuse,becausethiswouldinvolveacontradictionofexternalfreedomwithitself。Anobjectofmyfreewill,however,isonewhichIhavethephysicalcapabilityofmakingsomeuseofatwill,sinceitsusestandsinmypower(inpotentia)。

Thisistobedistinguishedfromhavingtheobjectbroughtundermydisposal(inpostestatemmeamreductum),whichsupposesnotacapabilitymerely,butalsoaparticularactofthefree—will。Butinordertoconsidersomethingmerelyasanobjectofmywillassuch,itissufficienttobeconsciousthatIhaveitinmypower。Itisthereforeanassumptionaprioriofthepracticalreasontoregardandtreateveryobjectwithintherangeofmyfreeexerciseofwillasobjectivelyapossiblemineorthine。

Thispostulatemaybecalled\"apermissivelaw\"ofthepracticalreason,asgivingusaspecialtitlewhichwecouldnotevolveoutofthemereconceptionsofrightgenerally。Andthistitleconstitutestherighttoimposeuponallothersanobligation,nototherwiselaiduponthem,toabstainfromtheuseofcertainobjectsofourfreechoice,becausewehavealreadytakenthemintoourpossession。Reasonwillsthatthisshallberecognisedasavalidprinciple,anditdoessoaspracticalreason;anditisenabledbymeansofthispostulateaprioritoenlargeitsrangeofactivityinpractice。

3。PossessionandOwnership。

Anyonewhowouldasserttherighttoathingashismustbeinpossessionofitasanobject。Werehenotitsactualpossessororowner,hecouldnotbewrongedorinjuredbytheusewhichanothermightmakeofitwithouthisconsent。For,shouldanythingexternaltohim,andinnowayconnectedwithhimbyright,affectthisobject,itcouldnotaffecthimselfasasubject,nordohimanywrong,unlesshestoodinarelationofownershiptoit。

4。ExpositionoftheConceptionofthe。

ExternalMineandThine。

Therecanonlybethreeexternalobjectsofmywillintheactivityofchoice:

(1)Acorporealthingexternaltome;

(2)Thefree—willofanotherintheperformanceofaparticularact(praestatio);

(3)Thestateofanotherinrelationtomyself。

Thesecorrespondtothecategoriesofsubstance,causality,andreciprocity;andtheyformthepracticalrelationsbetweenmeandexternalobjects,accordingtothelawsoffreedom。

A。Icanonlycallacorporealthingoranobjectinspace\"mine,\"

when,evenalthoughnotinphysicalpossessionofit,IamabletoassertthatIaminpossessionofitinanotherrealnonphysicalsense。Thus,IamnotentitledtocallanappleminemerelybecauseIholditinmyhandorpossessitphysically;butonlywhenIamentitledtosay,\"Ipossessit,althoughIhavelaiditoutofmyhand,andwhereveritmaylie。\"Inlikemanner,Iamnotentitledtosayoftheground,onwhichImayhavelaidmyselfdown,thatthereforeitismine;butonlywhenIcanrightlyassertthatitstillremainsinmypossession,althoughImayhaveleftthespot。Foranyonewho,intheformerappearancesofempiricalpossession,mightwrenchtheappleoutofmyhand,ordragmeawayfrommyresting—place,would,indeed,injuremeinrespectoftheinner\"mine\"

offreedom,butnotinrespectoftheexternal\"mine,\"unlessI

couldassertthatIwasinthepossessionoftheobject,evenwhennotactuallyholdingitphysically。AndifIcouldnotdothis,neithercouldIcalltheappleorthespotmine。

B。Icannotcalltheperformanceofsomethingbytheactionofthewillofanother\"mine,\"ifIcanonlysay\"ithascomeintomypossessionatthesametimewithapromise\"(pactumreinitum);butonlyifIamabletoassert\"Iaminpossessionofthewilloftheother,soastodeterminehimtotheperformanceofaparticularact,althoughthetimefortheperformanceofithasnotyetcome。\"Inthelattercase,thepromisebelongstothenatureofthingsactuallyheldaspossessed,andasanactiveobligationIcanreckonitmine;andthisholdsgoodnotonlyifIhavethethingpromised—asinthefirstcase—alreadyinmypossession,butevenalthoughIdonotyetpossessitinfact。Hence,Imustbeabletoregardmyselfinthoughtasindependentofthatempiricalformofpossessionthatislimitedbytheconditionoftimeandasbeing,nevertheless,inpossessionoftheobject。

C。Icannotcallawife,achild,adomestic,or,generally,anyotherperson\"mine\"merelybecauseIcommandthematpresentasbelongingtomyhousehold,orbecauseIhavethemundercontrol,andinmypowerandpossession。ButIcancallthemmine,if,althoughtheymayhavewithdrawnthemselvesfrommycontrolandIdonotthereforepossessthemempirically,Icanstillsay\"Ipossessthembymymerewill,providedtheyexistanywhereinspaceortime;and,consequently,mypossessionofthemispurelyjuridical。\"Theybelong,infact,tomypossessions,onlywhenandsofarasIcanassertthisasamatterofright。

5。DefinitionoftheConceptionoftheExternalMineandThine。

Definitionsarenominalorreal。Anominaldefinitionissufficientmerelytodistinguishtheobjectdefinedfromallotherobjects,anditspringsoutofacompleteanddefiniteexpositionofitsconception。Arealdefinitionfurthersufficesforadeductionoftheconceptiondefined,soastofurnishaknowledgeoftherealityoftheobject。Thenominaldefinitionoftheexternal\"mine\"wouldthusbe:\"Theexternalmineisanythingoutsideofmyself,suchthatanyhindranceofmyuseofitatwillwouldbedoingmeaninjuryorwrongasaninfringementofthatfreedomofminewhichmaycoexistwiththefreedomofallothersaccordingtoauniversallaw。\"Therealdefinitionofthisconceptionmaybeputthus:\"Theexternalmineisanythingoutsideofmyself,suchthatanypreventionofmyuseofitwouldbeawrong,althoughImaynotbeinpossessionofitsoastobeactuallyholdingitasanobject。\"Imustbeinsomekindofpossessionofanexternalobject,iftheobjectistoberegardedasmine;for,otherwise,anyoneinterferingwiththisobjectwouldnot,indoingso,affectme;nor,consequently,wouldhetherebydomeanywrong。Hence,accordingtoSS4,arationalpossession(possessionoumenon)mustbeassumedaspossible,ifthereistoberightlyanexternalmineandthine。Empiricalpossessionisthusonlyphenomenalpossessionorholding(detention)oftheobjectinthesphereofsensibleappearance(possessiophenomenon),althoughtheobjectwhichIpossessisnotregardedinthispracticalrelationasitselfaphenomenon—accordingtotheexpositionoftheTranscendentalAnalyticintheCritiqueofPureReason—butasathinginitself。ForintheCritiqueofPureReasontheinterestofreasonturnsuponthetheoreticalknowledgeofthenatureofthingsandhowfarreasoncangoinsuchknowledge。Butherereasonhastodealwiththepracticaldeterminationoftheactionofthewillaccordingtolawsoffreedom,whethertheobjectisperceivablethroughthesensesormerelythinkablebythepureunderstanding。Andright,asunderconsideration,isapurepracticalconceptionofthereasoninrelationtotheexerciseofthewillunderlawsoffreedom。

And,hence,itisnotquitecorrecttospeakof\"possessing\"arighttothisorthatobject,butitshouldratherbesaidthatanobjectispossessedinapurelyjuridicalway;forarightisitselftherationalpossessionofanobject,andto\"possessapossession,\"wouldbeanexpressionwithoutmeaning。

6。DeductionoftheConceptionofaPurelyJuridicalPossessionofanExternalObject(PossessioNoumenon)。

Thequestion,\"Howisanexternalmineandthinepossible?\"resolvesitselfintothisotherquestion:\"Howisamerelyjuridicalorrationalpossessionpossible?\"Andthissecondquestionresolvesitselfagainintoathird:\"Howisasyntheticpropositioninrightpossibleapriori?\"

Allpropositionsofright—asjuridicalpropositions—arepropositionsapriori,fortheyarepracticallawsofreason(dictaminarationis)。Butthejuridicalpropositionapriorirespectingempiricalpossessionisanalytical;foritsaysnothingmorethanwhatfollowsbytheprincipleofcontradiction,fromtheconceptionofsuchpossession;namely,thatifIamtheholderofathinginthewayofbeingphysicallyconnectedwithit,anyoneinterferingwithitwithoutmyconsent—as,forinstance,inwrenchinganappleoutofmyhand—affectsanddetractsfrommyfreedomasthatwhichisinternallymine;andconsequentlythemaximofhisactionisindirectcontradictiontotheaxiomofright。Thepropositionexpressingtheprincipleofanempiricalrightfulpossessiondoesnotthereforegobeyondtherightofapersoninreferencetohimself。

Ontheotherhand,thepropositionexpressingthepossibilityofthepossessionofathingexternaltome,afterabstractionofalltheconditionsofempiricalpossessioninspaceandtime—consequentlypresentingtheassumptionofthepossibilityofapossessionoumenon—goesbeyondtheselimitingconditions;andbecausethispropositionassertsapossessionevenwithoutphysicalholding,asnecessarytotheconceptionoftheexternalmineandthine,itissynthetical。Andthusitbecomesaproblemforreasontoshowhowsuchaproposition,extendingitsrangebeyondtheconceptionofempiricalpossession,ispossibleapriori。

Inthismanner,forinstance,theactoftakingpossessionofaparticularportionofthesoilisamodeexercisingtheprivatefree—willwithoutbeinganactofusurpation。Thepossessorfoundsupontheinnaterightofcommonpossessionofthesurfaceoftheearth,andupontheuniversalwillcorrespondingaprioritoit,whichallowsaprivatepossessionofthesoil;becausewhataremerethingswouldbeotherwisemadeinthemselvesandbyalawintounappropriableobjects。Thusafirstappropriatoracquiresoriginallybyprimarypossessionaparticularportionoftheground;

andbyright(jure)heresistseveryotherpersonwhowouldhinderhimintheprivateuseofit,although,whilethe\"stateofnature\"

continues,thiscannotbedonebyjuridicalmeans(dejure),becauseapubliclawdoesnotyetexist。

Andalthoughapieceofgroundshouldberegardedasfree,ordeclaredtobesuch,soastobeforthepublicuseofallwithoutdistinction,yetitcannotbesaidthatitisthusfreebynatureandoriginallyso,priortoanyjuridicalact。Fortherewouldbearealrelationalreadyincorporatedinsuchapieceofgroundbytheveryfactthatthepossessionofitwasdeniedtoanyparticularindividual;andasthispublicfreedomofthegroundwouldbeaprohibitionofittoeveryparticularindividual,thispresupposesacommonpossessionofitwhichcannottakeeffectwithoutacontract。A

pieceofground,however,whichcanonlybecomepubliclyfreebycontract,mustactuallybeinthepossessionofallthoseassociatedtogether,whomutuallyinterdictorsuspendeachother,fromanyparticularorprivateuseofit。

Thisoriginalcommunityofthesoilandofthethingsuponit(communiofundioriginaria),isanideawhichhasobjectiveandpracticaljuridicalrealityandisentirelydifferentfromtheideaofaprimitivecommunityofthings,whichisafiction。Forthelatterwouldhavehadtobefoundedasaformofsociety,andmusthavetakenitsrisefromacontractbywhichallrenouncedtherightofprivatepossession,sothatbyunitingthepropertyownedbyeachintoawhole,itwasthustransformedintoacommonpossession。Buthadsuchaneventtakenplace,historymusthavepresentedsomeevidenceofit。Toregardsuchaprocedureastheoriginalmodeoftakingpossession,andtoholdthattheparticularpossessionsofeveryindividualmayandoughttobegroundeduponit,isevidentlyacontradiction。

Possession(possessio)istobedistinguishedfromhabitationasmereresidence(sedes);andtheactoftakingpossessionofthesoilintheintentionofacquiringitonceforall,isalsotobedistinguishedfromsettlementordomicile(incolatus),whichisacontinuousprivatepossessionofaplacethatisdependentonthepresenceoftheindividualuponit。Wehavenotheretodealwiththequestionofdomiciliarysettlement,asthatisasecondaryjuridicalactwhichmayfollowuponpossession,ormaynotoccuratall;forassuchitcouldnotinvolveanoriginalpossession,butonlyasecondarypossessionderivedfromtheconsentofothers。

Simplephysicalpossession,orholdingofthesoil,involvesalreadycertainrelationsofrighttothething,althoughitiscertainlynotsufficienttoenablemetoregarditasmine。Relativetoothers,sofarastheyknow,itappearsasafirstpossessioninharmonywiththelawofexternalfreedom;and,atthesametime,itisembracedintheuniversaloriginalpossessionwhichcontainsapriorithefundamentalprincipleofthepossibilityofaprivatepossession。Hencetodisturbthefirstoccupierorholderofaportionofthesoilinhisuseofitisalesionorwrongdonetohim。Thefirsttakingofpossessionhasthereforeatitleofright(tituluspossessionis)initsfavour,whichissimplytheprincipleoftheoriginalcommonpossession;andthesayingthat\"Itiswellforthosewhoareinpossession\"(beatipossidentes),whenoneisnotboundtoauthenticatehispossession,isaprincipleofnaturalrightthatestablishesthejuridicalactoftakingpossession,asagroundofacquisitionuponwhicheveryfirstpossessormayfound。

IthasbeenshownintheCritiqueofPureReasonthatintheoreticalprinciplesapriori,anintuitionalperceptionapriorimustbesuppliedinconnectionwithanygivenconception;and,consequently,wereitaquestionofapurelytheoreticalprinciple,somethingwouldhavetobeaddedtotheconceptionofthepossessionofanobjecttomakeitreal。Butinrespectofthepracticalprincipleunderconsideration,theprocedureisjusttheconverseofthetheoreticalprocess;sothatalltheconditionsofperceptionwhichformthefoundationofempiricalpossessionmustbeabstractedortakenawayinordertoextendtherangeofthejuridicalconceptionbeyondtheempiricalsphere,andinordertobeabletoapplythepostulate,thateveryexternalobjectofthefreeactivityofmywill,sofarasIhaveitinmypower,althoughnotinthepossessionofit,maybereckonedasjuridicallymine。

Thepossibilityofsuchapossession,withconsequentdeductionoftheconceptionofanonempiricalpossession,isfoundeduponthejuridicalpostulateofthepracticalreason,that\"Itisajuridicaldutysotoacttowardsothersthatwhatisexternalanduseablemaycomeintothepossessionorbecomethepropertyofsomeone。\"Andthispostulateisconjoinedwiththeexpositionoftheconceptionthatwhatisexternallyone’sownisfoundeduponapossession,thatisnotphysical。Thepossibilityofsuchapossession,thusconceived,cannot,however,beprovedorcomprehendedinitself,becauseitisarationalconceptionforwhichnoempiricalperceptioncanbefurnished;butitfollowsasanimmediateconsequencefromthepostulatethathasbeenenunciated。For,ifitisnecessarytoactaccordingtothatjuridicalprinciple,therationalorintelligibleconditionofapurelyjuridicalpossessionmustalsobepossible。Itneedastonishnoone,then,thatthetheoreticalaspectoftheprinciplesoftheexternalmineandthineislostfromviewintherationalsphereofpureintelligenceandpresentsnoextensionofknowledge;fortheconceptionoffreedomuponwhichtheyrestdoesnotadmitofanytheoreticaldeductionofitspossibility,anditcanonlybeinferredfromthepracticallawofreason,calledthecategoricalimperative,viewedasafact。

7。ApplicationofthePrincipleofthePossibilityofanExternalMineandThinetoObjectsofExperience。

Theconceptionofapurelyjuridicalpossessionisnotanempiricalconceptiondependentonconditionsofspaceandtime,andyetithaspracticalreality。Assuchitmustbeapplicabletoobjectsofexperience,theknowledgeofwhichisindependentoftheconditionsofspaceandtime。Therationalprocessbywhichtheconceptionofrightisbroughtintorelationtosuchobjectssoastoconstituteapossibleexternalmineandthine,isasfollows。Theconceptionofright,beingcontainedmerelyinreason,cannotbeimmediatelyappliedtoobjectsofexperience,soastogivetheconceptionofanempiricalpossession,butmustbeapplieddirectlytothemediatingconception,intheunderstanding,ofpossessioningeneral;sothat,insteadofphysicalholding(detentio)asanempiricalrepresentationofpossession,theformalconceptionorthoughtofhaving,abstractedfromallconditionsofspaceandtime,isconceivedbythemind,andonlyasimplyingthatanobjectisinmypowerandatmydisposal(inpotestatemeapositumesse)。Inthisrelation,thetermexternaldoesnotsignifyexistenceinanotherplacethanwhereI

am,normyresolutionandacceptanceatanothertimethanthemomentinwhichIhavetheofferofathing:itsignifiesonlyanobjectdifferentfromorotherthanmyself。Nowthepracticalreasonbyitslawofrightwills,thatIshallthinkthemineandthineinapplicationtoobjects,notaccordingtosensibleconditions,butapartfromtheseandfromthepossessiontheyindicate;becausetheyrefertodeterminationsoftheactivityofthewillthatareinaccordancewiththelawsoffreedom。Foritisonlyaconceptionoftheunderstandingthatcanbebroughtundertherationalconceptionofright。ImaythereforesaythatIpossessafield,althoughitisinquiteadifferentplacefromthatonwhichIactuallyfindmyself。Forthequestionhereisnotconcerninganintellectualrelationtotheobject,butIhavethethingpracticallyinmypowerandatmydisposal,whichisaconceptionofpossessionrealizedbytheunderstandingandindependentofrelationsofspace;anditismine,becausemywill,indeterminingitselftoanyparticularuseofit,isnotinconflictwiththelawofexternalfreedom。Nowitisjustinabstractionfromphysicalpossessionoftheobjectofmyfree—willinthesphereofsense,thatthepracticalreasonwillsthatarationalpossessionofitshallbethought,accordingtointellectualconceptionswhicharenotempirical,butcontainaprioritheconditionsofrationalpossession。Henceitisinthisfact,thatwefoundthegroundofthevalidityofsucharationalconceptionofpossessionpossessionoumenon)asaprincipleofauniversallyvalidlegislation。Forsuchalegislationisimpliedandcontainedintheexpression,\"Thisexternalobjectismine,\"becauseanobligationistherebyimposeduponallothersinrespectofit,whowouldotherwisenothavebeenobligedtoabstainfromtheuseofthisobject。

Themode,then,ofhavingsomethingexternaltomyselfasmine,consistsinaspeciallyjuridicalconnectionofthewillofthesubjectwiththatobject,independentlyoftheempiricalrelationstoitinspaceandintime,andinaccordancewiththeconceptionofarationalpossession。AparticularspotontheearthisnotexternallyminebecauseIoccupyitwithmybody;forthequestionherediscussedrefersonlytomyexternalfreedom,andconsequentlyitaffectsonlythepossessionofmyself,whichisnotathingexternaltome,andthereforeonlyinvolvesaninternalright。ButifI

continuetobeinpossessionofthespot,althoughIhavetakenmyselfawayfromitandgonetoanotherplace,onlyunderthatconditionismyexternalrightconcernedinconnectionwithit。Andtomakethecontinuouspossessionofthisspotbymypersonaconditionofhavingitasmine,musteitherbetoassertthatitisnotpossibleatalltohaveanythingexternalasone’sown,whichiscontrarytothepostulateinSS2,ortorequire,inorderthatthisexternalpossessionmaybepossible,thatIshallbeintwoplacesatthesametime。ButthisamountstosayingthatImustbeinaplaceandalsonotinit,whichiscontradictoryandabsurd。

ThispositionmaybeappliedtothecaseinwhichIhaveacceptedapromise;formyhavingandpossessioninrespectofwhathasbeenpromisedbecomeestablishedonthegroundofexternalright。Thisrightisnottobeannulledbythefactthatthepromiserhavingsaidatonetime,\"Thisthingshallbeyours,\"againatasubsequenttimesays,\"Mywillnowisthatthethingshallnotbeyours。\"Insuchrelationsofrationalright,theconditionsholdjustthesameasifthepromiserhad,withoutanyintervaloftimebetweenthem,madethetwodeclarationsofhiswill,\"Thisshallbeyours,\"andalso\"Thisshallnotbeyours\";whichmanifestlycontradictsitself。

Thesamethingholds,inlikemanner,oftheconceptionofthejuridicalpossessionofapersonasbelongingtotheHavingofasubject,whetheritbeawife,achild,oraservant。Therelationsofrightinvolvedinahousehold,andthereciprocalpossessionofallitsmembers,arenotannulledbythecapabilityofseparatingfromeachotherinspace;becauseitisbyjuridicalrelationsthattheyareconnected,andtheexternalmineandthine,asintheformercases,restsentirelyupontheassumptionofthepossibilityofapurelyrationalpossession,withouttheaccompanimentofphysicaldetentionorholdingoftheobject。

Reasonisforcedtoacritiqueofitsjuridicallypracticalfunctioninspecialreferencetotheconceptionoftheexternalmineandthine,bytheantinomyofthepropositionsenunciatedregardingthepossibilityofsuchaformofpossession。Forthesegiverisetoaninevitabledialectic,inwhichathesisandanantithesissetupequalclaimstothevalidityoftwoconflictingconditions。Reasonisthuscompelled,initspracticalfunctioninrelationtoright—asitwasinitstheoreticalfunction—tomakeadistinctionbetweenpossessionasaphenomenalappearancepresentedtothesenses,andthatpossessionwhichisrationalandthinkableonlybytheunderstanding。

Thesis。—Thethesis,inthiscase,is:\"Itispossibletohavesomethingexternalasmine,althoughIamnotinpossessionofit。\"

Antithesis。—Theantithesisis:\"Itisnotpossibletohaveanythingexternalasmine,ifIamnotinpossessionofit。\"

Solution。—Thesolutionis:\"BothPropositionsaretrue\";theformerwhenImeanempiricalpossession(possessiophaenomenon),thelatterwhenIunderstandbythesameterm,apurelyrationalpossession(possessionoumenon)。

Butthepossibilityofarationalpossession,andconsequentlyofanexternalmineandthine,cannotbecomprehendedbydirectinsight,butmustbededucedfromthepracticalreason。Andinthisrelationitisspeciallynoteworthythatthepracticalreasonwithoutintuitionalperceptions,andevenwithoutrequiringsuchanelementapriori,canextenditsrangebythemereeliminationofempiricalconditions,asjustifiedbythelawoffreedom,andcanthusestablishsyntheticalpropositionsapriori。Theproofofthisinthepracticalconnection,aswillbeshownafterwards,canbeadducedinananalyticalmanner。

8。ToHaveAnythingExternalasOne’sOwnisonlyPossibleinaJuridicalorCivilStateofSocietyundertheRegulationofaPublicLegislativePower。

If,bywordordeed,Ideclaremywillthatsomeexternalthingshallbemine,Imakeadeclarationthateveryotherpersonisobligedtoabstainfromtheuseofthisobjectofmyexerciseofwill;andthisimposesanobligationwhichnoonewouldbeunder,withoutsuchajuridicalactonmypart。ButtheassumptionofthisactatthesametimeinvolvestheadmissionthatIamobligedreciprocallytoobserveasimilarabstentiontowardseveryotherinrespectofwhatisexternallytheirs;fortheobligationinquestionarisesfromauniversalruleregulatingtheexternaljuridicalrelations。HenceIamnotobligedtoletalonewhatanotherpersondeclarestobeexternallyhis,unlesseveryotherpersonlikewisesecuresmebyaguaranteethathewillactinrelationtowhatismine,uponthesameprinciple。Thisguaranteeofreciprocalandmutualabstentionfromwhatbelongstoothersdoesnotrequireaspecialjuridicalactforitsestablishment,butisalreadyinvolvedintheconceptionofanexternalobligationofright,onaccountoftheuniversalityandconsequentlythereciprocityoftheobligatorinessarisingfromauniversalRule。Nowasinglewill,inrelationtoanexternalandconsequentlycontingentpossession,cannotserveasacompulsorylawforall,becausethatwouldbetodoviolencetothefreedomwhichisinaccordancewithuniversallaws。Thereforeitisonlyawillthatbindseveryone,andassuchacommon,collective,andauthoritativewill,thatcanfurnishaguaranteeofsecuritytoall。Butthestateofmenunderauniversal,external,andpubliclegislation,conjoinedwithauthorityandpower,iscalledthecivilstate。Therecanthereforebeanexternalmineandthineonlyinthecivilstateofsociety。

Consequence。—Itfollows,asacorollary,that,ifitisjuridicallypossibletohaveanexternalobjectasone’sown,theindividualsubjectofpossessionmustbeallowedtocompelorconstraineverypersonwithwhomadisputeastothemineorthineofsuchapossessionmayarise,toenteralongwithhimselfintotherelationsofacivilconstitution。

9。ThereMay,However,BeanExternalMineandThineFoundasaFactintheStateofNature,butitisonlyProvisory。

Naturalrightinthestateofacivilconstitutionmeanstheformsofrightwhichmaybededucedfromprinciplesaprioriastheconditionsofsuchaconstitution。Itisthereforenottobeinfringedbythestatutorylawsofsuchaconstitution;andaccordinglythejuridicalprincipleremainsinforce,that,\"Whoeverproceedsuponamaximbywhichitbecomesimpossibleformetohaveanobjectoftheexerciseofmywillasmine,doesmealesionorinjury。\"Foracivilconstitutionisonlythejuridicalconditionunderwhicheveryonehaswhatishisownmerelysecuredtohim,asdistinguishedfromitsbeingspeciallyassignedanddeterminedtohim。Allguarantee,therefore,assumesthateveryonetowhomathingissecuredisalreadyinpossessionofitashisown。Hence,priortothecivilconstitution—orapartfromit—anexternalmineandthinemustbeassumedaspossible,andalongwithitarighttocompeleveryonewithwhomwecouldcomeintoanykindofintercoursetoenterwithusintoaconstitutioninwhichwhatismineorthinecanbesecured。

Theremaythusbeapossessioninexpectationorinpreparationforsuchastateofsecurity,ascanonlybeestablishedonthelawofthecommonwill;andasitisthereforeinaccordancewiththepossibilityofsuchastate,itconstitutesaprovisoryortemporaryjuridicalpossession;whereasthatpossessionwhichisfoundinrealityinthecivilstateofsocietywillbeaperemptoryorguaranteedpossession。Priortoenteringintothisstate,forwhichheisnaturallyprepared,theindividualrightfullyresiststhosewhowillnotadaptthemselvestoit,andwhowoulddisturbhiminhisprovisorypossession;because,ifthewillofallexcepthimselfwereimposinguponhimanobligationtowithdrawfromacertainpossession,itwouldstillbeonlyaone—sidedorunilateralwill,andconsequentlyitwouldhavejustaslittlelegaltitle—whichcanbeproperlybasedonlyontheuniversalizedwill—tocontestaclaimofrightashewouldhavetoassertit。Yetbehastheadvantageonhisside,ofbeinginaccordwiththeconditionsrequisitetotheintroductionandinstitutionofacivilformofsociety。Inaword,themodeinwhichanythingexternalmaybeheldasone’sowninthestateofnature,isjustphysicalpossessionwithapresumptionofrightthusfarinitsfavour,thatbyunionofthewillsofallinapubliclegislationitwillbemadejuridical;andinthisexpectationitholdscomparatively,asakindofpotentialjuridicalpossession。

Thisprerogativeofright,asarisingfromthefactofempiricalpossession,isinaccordancewiththeformula:\"Itiswellforthosewhoareinpossession\"(Beatipossidentes)。Itdoesnotconsistinthefactthat,becausethepossessorhasthepresumptionofbeingarightfulman,itisunnecessaryforhimtobringforwardproofthathepossessesacertainthingrightfully,forthispositionappliesonlytoacaseofdisputedright。Butitisbecauseitaccordswiththepostulateofthepracticalreason,thateveryoneisinvestedwiththefacultyofhavingashisownanyexternalobjectuponwhichhehasexertedhiswill;and,consequently,allactualpossessionisastatewhoserightfulnessisestablisheduponthatpostulatebyananterioractofwill。Andsuchanact,iftherebenopriorpossessionofthesameobjectbyanotheropposedtoit,does,therefore,provisionallyjustifyandentitleme,accordingtothelawofexternalfreedom,torestrainanyonewhorefusestoenterwithmeintoastateofpubliclegalfreedomfromallpretensiontotheuseofsuchanobject。Forsuchaprocedureisrequisite,inconformitywiththepostulateofreason,inordertosubjecttomyproperuseathingwhichwouldotherwisebepracticallyannihilated,asregardsallproperuseofit。