第2章

CH2

FIRSTPART。PRIVATERIGHT。

TheSystemofthoseLawsWhichRequireNoExternalPromulgation。

CHAPTERII。TheModeofAcquiringAnythingExternal。

10。TheGeneralPrincipleofExternalAcquisition。

IacquireathingwhenIact(efficio)sothatitbecomesmine。Anexternalthingisoriginallyminewhenitismineevenwithouttheinterventionofajuridicalact。Anacquisitionisoriginalandprimarywhenitisnotderivedfromwhatanotherhadalreadymadehisown。

Thereisnothingexternalthatisassuchoriginallymine;butanythingexternalmaybeoriginallyacquiredwhenitisanobjectthatnootherpersonhasyetmadehis。Astateinwhichthemineandthineareincommoncannotbeconceivedashavingbeenatanytimeoriginal。Suchastateofthingswouldhavetobeacquiredbyanexternaljuridicalact,althoughtheremaybeanoriginalandcommonpossessionofanexternalobject。Evenifwethinkhypotheticallyofastateinwhichthemineandthinewouldbeoriginallyincommonasacommuniomeiettuioriginaria,itwouldstillhavetobedistinguishedfromaprimevalcommunion(communioprimaeva)withthingsincommon,sometimessupposedtobefoundedinthefirstperiodoftherelationsofrightamongmen,andwhichcouldnotberegardedasbaseduponprinciplesliketheformer,butonlyuponhistory。

Evenunderthatconditionthehistoriccommunio,asasupposedprimevalcommunity,wouldalwayshavetobeviewedasacquiredandderivative(communioderivativa)。

Theprincipleofexternalacquisition,then,maybeexpressedthus:\"WhateverIbringundermypoweraccordingtothelawofexternalfreedom,ofwhichasanobjectofmyfreeactivityofwillIhavethecapabilityofmakinguseaccordingtothepostulateofthepracticalreason,andwhichIwilltobecomemineinconformitywiththeideaofapossibleunitedcommonwill,ismine。\"

Thepracticalelements(momentaattendenda)constitutiveoftheprocessoforiginalacquisitionare:

1。Prehensionorseizureofanobjectwhichbelongstonoone;

for,ifitbelongedalreadytosomeone,theactwouldconflictwiththefreedomofothers,thatis,accordingtouniversallaws。Thisisthetakingpossessionofanobjectofmyfreeactivityofwillinspaceandtime;thepossession,therefore,intowhichIthusputmyselfissensibleorphysicalpossession(possessiophenomenon);

2。Declarationofthepossessionofthisobjectbyformaldesignationandtheactofmyfreewillininterdictingeveryotherpersonfromusingitashis;

3。Appropriation,astheact,inidea,ofanexternallylegislativecommonwill,bywhichallandeachareobligedtorespectandactinconformitywithmyactofwill。

Thevalidityofthelastelementintheprocessofacquisition,asthatonwhichtheconclusionthat\"theexternalobjectismine\"rests,iswhatmakesthepossessionvalidasapurelyrationalandjuridicalpossession(possessionoumenon)。Itisfoundeduponthefactthat,asalltheseactsarejuridical,theyconsequentlyproceedfromthepracticalreason,andtherefore,inthequestionastowhatisright,abstractionmaybemadeoftheempiricalconditionsinvolved,andtheconclusion,\"theexternalobjectismine,\"thusbecomesacorrectinferencefromtheexternalfactofsensiblepossessiontotheinternalrightofrationalpossession。

Theoriginalprimaryacquisitionofanexternalobjectoftheactionofthewill,iscalledoccupancy。Itcanonlytakeplaceinreferencetosubstancesorcorporealthings。Nowwhenthisoccupationofanexternalobjectdoestakeplace,theactpresupposes,asaconditionofsuchempiricalpossession,itspriorityintimebeforetheactofanyotherwhomayalsobewillingtoenteruponoccupationofit。Hencethelegalmaxim:\"quipriortempore,potiorjure。\"Suchoccupationasoriginalorprimaryis,further,theeffectonlyofasingleorunilateralwill;forwereabilateralortwofoldwillrequisiteforit,itwouldbederivedfromacontractoftwoormorepersonswitheachother,andconsequentlyitwouldbebaseduponwhatanotherorothershadalreadymadetheirown。Itisnoteasytoseehowsuchanactoffree—willasthiswouldbecouldreallyformafoundationforeveryonehavinghisown。However,thefirstacquisitionofathingisonthataccountnotquiteexactlythesameastheoriginalacquisitionofit。Fortheacquisitionofapublicjuridicalstatebyunionofthewillsofallinauniversallegislationwouldbesuchanoriginalacquisition,seeingthatnootherofthekindcouldprecedeit,andyetitwouldbederivedfromtheparticularwillsofalltheindividuals,andconsequentlybecomeall—sidedoromnilateral;foraproperlyprimaryacquisitioncanonlyproceedfromanindividualorunilateralorunilateralwill。

DIVISIONOFTHESUBJECTOFTHEACQUISITIONOFTHEEXTERNAL

MINEANDTHINE。

I。Inrespectofthematterofobjectofacquisition,Iacquireeitheracorporealthing(substance),ortheperformanceofsomethingbyanother(causality),orthisotherasapersoninrespectofhisstate,sofarasIhavearighttodisposeofthesame(inarelationofreciprocitywithhim)。

II。Inrespectoftheformormodeofacquisition,itiseitherarealright(jusreale),orapersonalright(juspersonale),orareal—personalright(jusrealiterpersonale),tothepossessionalthoughnottotheuse,ofanotherpersonasifhewereathing。

III。Inrespectofthegroundofrightorthetitle(titulus)ofacquisition—which,properly,isnotaparticularmemberofthedivisionofrights,butratheraconstituentelementofthemodeofexercisingthem—anythingexternalisacquiredbyacertainfreeexerciseofwillthatiseitherunilateral,astheactofasinglewill(facto),orbilateral,astheactoftwowills(pacto),oromnilateral,astheactofallthewillsofacommunitytogether(lege)。

SECTIONI。PrinciplesofRealRight。

11。WhatisaRealRight?

Theusualdefinitionofrealright,or\"rightinathing\"(jusreale,jusinre),isthat\"itisarightasagainsteverypossessorofit。\"Thisisacorrectnominaldefinition。Butwhatisitthatentitlesmetoclaimanexternalobjectfromanyonewhomayappearasitspossessor,andtocompelhim,pervindicationem,toputmeagain,inplaceofhimself,intopossessionofit?Isthisexternaljuridicalrelationofmywillakindofimmediaterelationtoanexternalthing?Ifso,whoevermightthinkofhisrightasreferringnotimmediatelytopersonsbuttothingswouldhavetorepresentit,althoughonlyinanobscureway,somewhatthus。Arightononesidehasalwaysadutycorrespondingtoitontheother,sothatanexternalthing,althoughawayfromthehandsofitsfirstpossessor,continuestobestillconnectedwithhimbyacontinuingobligation;

andthusitrefusestofallundertheclaimofanyotherpossessor,becauseitisalreadyboundtoanother。Inthiswaymyright,viewedasakindofgoodgeniusaccompanyingathingandpreservingitfromallexternalattack,wouldreferanalienpossessoralwaystome!Itis,however,absurdtothinkofanobligationofpersonstowardsthings,andconversely;althoughitmaybeallowedinanyparticularcasetorepresentthejuridicalrelationbyasensibleimageofthiskind,andtoexpressitinthisway。

Therealdefinitionwouldrunthus:\"Rightinathingisarighttotheprivateuseofathing,ofwhichIaminpossession—originalorderivative—incommonwithallothers。\"ForthisistheoneconditionunderwhichitisalonepossiblethatIcanexcludeeveryotherspossessorfromtheprivateuseofthething(juscontraquemlibethujusreipossessorem)。For,exceptbypresupposingsuchacommoncollectivepossession,itcannotbeconceivedhow,whenIamnotinactualpossessionofathing,Icouldbeinjuredorwrongedbyotherswhoareinpossessionofitanduseit。ByanindividualactofmyownwillIcannotobligeanyotherpersontoabstainfromtheuseofathinginrespectofwhichhewouldotherwisebeundernoobligation;and,accordingly,suchanobligationcanonlyarisefromthecollectivewillofallunitedinarelationofcommonpossession。Otherwise,Iwouldhavetothinkofarightinathing,asifthethinghasanobligationtowardsme,andasiftherightasagainsteverypossessorofithadtobederivedfromthisobligationinthething,whichisanabsurdwayofrepresentingthesubject。

Further,bythetermrealright(jusreale)ismeantnotonlytherightinathing(jusinre),butalsotheconstitutiveprincipleofallthelawswhichrelatetotherealmineandthine。Itis,however,evidentthatamanentirelyaloneupontheearthcouldproperlyneitherhavenoracquireanyexternalthingashisown;

because,betweenhimasapersonandallexternalthingsasmaterialobjects,therecouldbenorelationsofobligation。Thereistherefore,literally,nodirectrightinathing,butonlythatrightistobeproperlycalled\"real\"whichbelongstoanyoneasconstitutedagainstaperson,whoisincommonpossessionofthingswithallothersinthecivilstateofsociety。

12。TheFirstAcquisitionofaThingcanonlybethatoftheSoil。

BythesoilisunderstoodallhabitableLand。Inrelationtoeverythingthatismoveableuponit,itistoberegardedasasubstance,andthemodeoftheexistenceofthemoveablesisviewedasaninherenceinit。Andjustas,inthetheoreticalacceptance,accidentscannotexistapartfromtheirsubstances,so,inthepracticalrelation,moveablesuponthesoilcannotberegardedasbelongingtoanyoneunlessheissupposedtohavebeenpreviouslyinjuridicalpossessionofthesoil,sothatitisthusconsideredtobehis。

For,letitbesupposedthatthesoilbelongstonoone。ThenI

wouldbeentitledtoremoveeverymoveablethingfounduponitfromitsplace,eventototallossofit,inordertooccupythatplace,withoutinfringingtherebyonthefreedomofanyother;therebeing,bythehypothesis,nopossessorofitatall。Buteverythingthatcanbedestroyed,suchasatree,ahouse,andsuchlike—asregardsitsmatteratleast—ismoveable;andifwecallathingwhichcannotbemovedwithoutdestructionofitsformanimmoveable,themineandthineinitisnotunderstoodasapplyingtoitssubstance,buttothatwhichisadherenttoitandwhichdoesnotessentiallyconstitutethethingitself。

13。EveryPartoftheSoilmaybeOriginallyAcquired;andthePrincipleofthePossibilityofsuchAcquisitionistheOriginalCommunityoftheSoilGenerally。

Thefirstclauseofthispropositionisfoundeduponthepostulateofthepracticalreason(SS2);thesecondisestablishedbythefollowingproof。

Allmenareoriginallyandbeforeanyjuridicalactofwillinrightfulpossessionofthesoil;thatis,theyhavearighttobewherevernatureorchancehasplacedthemwithouttheirwill。

Possession(possessio),whichistobedistinguishedfromresidentialsettlement(sedes)asavoluntary,acquired,andpermanentpossession,becomescommonpossession,onaccountoftheconnectionwitheachotherofalltheplacesonthesurfaceoftheearthasaglobe。For,hadthesurfaceoftheearthbeenaninfiniteplain,mencouldhavebeensodisperseduponitthattheymightnothavecomeintoanynecessarycommunionwitheachother,andastateofsocialcommunitywouldnothavebeenanecessaryconsequenceoftheirexistenceupontheearth。Nowthatpossessionpropertoallmenupontheearth,whichispriortoalltheirparticularjuridicalacts,constitutesanoriginalpossessionincommon(communiopossessionisoriginaria)。Theconceptionofsuchanoriginal,commonpossessionofthingsisnotderivedfromexperience,norisitdependentonconditionsoftime,asisthecasewiththeimaginaryandindemonstrablefictionofaprimaevalcommunityofpossessioninactualhistory。Henceitisapracticalconceptionofreason,involvinginitselftheonlyprincipleaccordingtowhichmenmayusetheplacetheyhappentooccupyonthesurfaceoftheearth,inaccordancewithlawsofright。

14。TheJuridicalActofthisOriginalAcquisitionisOccupancy。

Theactoftakingpossession(apprehensio),beingatitsbeginningthephysicalappropriationofacorporealthinginspace(possessionisphysicae),canaccordwiththelawoftheexternalfreedomofall,undernootherconditionthanthatofitspriorityinrespectoftime。

Inthisrelationitmusthavethecharacteristicofafirstactinthewayoftakingpossession,asafreeexerciseofwill。Theactivityofwill,however,asdeterminingthatthething—inthiscaseadefiniteseparateplaceonthesurfaceoftheearth—shallbemine,beinganactofappropriation,cannotbeotherwiseinthecaseoforiginalacquisitionthanindividualorunilateral(voluntasunilateraliss。propria)。Now,occupancyistheacquisitionofanexternalobjectbyanindividualactofwill。Theoriginalacquisitionofsuchanobjectasalimitedportionofthesoilcanthereforeonlybeaccomplishedbyanactofoccupation。

Thepossibilityofthismodeofacquisitioncannotbeintuitivelyapprehendedbypurereasoninanyway,norestablishedbyitsprinciples,butisanimmediateconsequencefromthepostulateofthepracticalreason。Thewillaspracticalreason,however,cannotjustifyexternalacquisitionotherwisethanonlyinsofarasitisitselfincludedinanabsolutelyauthoritativewill,withwhichitisunitedbyimplication;or,inotherwords,onlyinsofarasitiscontainedwithinaunionofthewillsofallwhocomeintopracticalrelationwitheachother。Foranindividual,unilateralwill—andthesameappliestoadualorotherparticularwill—

cannotimposeonallanobligationwhichiscontingentinitself。Thisrequiresanomnilateraloruniversalwill,whichisnotcontingent,butapriori,andwhichisthereforenecessarilyunitedandlegislative。Onlyinaccordancewithsuchaprinciplecantherebeagreementoftheactivefree—willofeachindividualwiththefreedomofall,andconsequentlyrightsingeneral,oreventhepossibilityofanexternalmineandthine。

15。ItisOnlywithinaCivilConstitutionthatAnythingcanbeAcquiredPeremptorily,whereasintheStateofNatureAcquisitioncanonlybeProvisory。

Acivilconstitutionisobjectivelynecessaryasaduty,althoughsubjectivelyitsrealityiscontingent。Hence,thereisconnectedwithitarealnaturallawofright,towhichallexternalacquisitionissubjected。

Theempiricaltitleofacquisitionhasbeenshowntobeconstitutedbythetakingphysicalpossession(apprehensiophysica)asfoundeduponanoriginalcommunityofrightinalltothesoil。Andbecauseapossessioninthephenomenalsphereofsensecanonlybesubordinatedtothatpossessionwhichisinaccordancewithrationalconceptionsofright,theremustcorrespondtothisphysicalactofpossessionarationalmodeoftakingpossessionbyeliminationofalltheempiricalconditionsinspaceandtime。Thisrationalformofpossessionestablishesthepropositionthat\"whateverIbringundermypowerinaccordancewithlawsofexternalfreedom,andwillthatitshallbemine,becomesmine。\"

Therationaltitleofacquisitioncanthereforeonlylieoriginallyintheideaofthewillofallunitedimplicitly,ornecessarilytobeunited,whichisheretacitlyassumedasanindispensablecondition(conditiosinequanon)。Forbyasinglewilltherecannotbeimposeduponothersanobligationbywhichtheywouldnothavebeenotherwisebound。Butthefactformedbywillsactuallyanduniversallyunitedinalegislationconstitutesthecivilstateofsociety。Hence,itisonlyinconformitywiththeideaofacivilstateofsociety,orinreferencetoitanditsrealization,thatanythingexternalcanbeacquired。Beforesuchastateisrealized,andinanticipationofit,acquisition,whichwouldotherwisebederived,isconsequentlyonlyprovisory。Theacquisitionwhichisperemptoryfindsplaceonlyinthecivilstate。

Nevertheless,suchprovisoryacquisitionisrealacquisition。For,accordingtothepostulateofthejuridicallypracticalreason,thepossibilityofacquisitioninwhateverstatemenmayhappentobelivingbesideoneanother,andthereforeinthestateofnatureaswell,isaprincipleofprivateright。Andinaccordancewiththisprinciple,everyoneisjustifiedorentitledtoexercisethatcompulsionbywhichitalonebecomespossibletopassoutofthestateofnatureandtoenterintothatstateofcivilsocietywhichalonecanmakeallacquisitionperemptory。

Itisaquestionastohowfartherightoftakingpossessionofthesoilextends。Theansweris,Sofarasthecapabilityofhavingitunderone’spowerextends;thatis,justasfarashewhowillstoappropriateitcandefendit,asifthesoilweretosay:\"Ifyoucannotprotectme,neithercanyoucommandme。\"Inthiswaythecontroversyaboutwhatconstitutesafreeorclosedseamustbedecided。Thus,withintherangeofacannon—shotnoonehasarighttointrudeonthecoastofacountrythatalreadybelongstoacertainstate,inordertofishorgatheramberontheshore,orsuchlike。

Further,thequestionisput,\"Iscultivationofthesoil,bybuilding,agriculture,drainage,etc。,necessaryinordertoitsacquisition?\"No。For,astheseprocessesasformsofspecificationareonlyaccidents,theydonotconstituteobjectsofimmediatepossessionandcanonlybelongtothesubjectinsofarasthesubstanceofthemhasbeenalreadyrecognizedashis。Whenitisaquestionofthefirstacquisitionofathing,thecultivationormodificationofitbylabourformsnothingmorethananexternalsignofthefactthatithasbeentakenintopossession,andthiscanbeindicatedbymanyothersignsthatcostlesstrouble。Again:

\"Mayanyonebehinderedintheactoftakingpossession,sothatneitheronenorotheroftwocompetitorsshallacquiretherightofpriority,andthesoilinconsequencemayremainforalltimefreeasbelongingtonoone?\"Notatall。Suchahindrancecannotbeallowedtotakeplace,becausethesecondofthetwo,inordertobeenabledtodothis,wouldhimselfhavetobeuponsomeneighbouringsoil,wherehealso,inthismanner,couldbehinderedfrombeing,andsuchabsolutehinderingwouldinvolveacontradiction。Itwould,however,bequiteconsistentwiththerightofoccupation,inthecaseofacertaininterveningpieceofthesoil,toletitlieunusedasaneutralgroundfortheseparationoftwoneighbouringstates;butundersuchacondition,thatgroundwouldactuallybelongtothembothincommon,andwouldnotbewithoutanowner(resnullius),justbecauseitwouldbeusedbybothinordertoformaseparationbetweenthem。Again:\"Mayonehaveathingashis,onasoilofwhichnoonehasappropriatedanypartashisown?\"Yes。InMongolia,forexample,anyonemayletliewhateverbaggagehehas,orbringbackthehorsethathasrunawayfromhimintohispossessionashisown,becausethewholesoilbelongstothepeoplegenerally,andtheuseofitaccordinglybelongstoeveryindividual。Butthatanyonecanhaveamoveablethingonthesoilofanotherashisownisonlypossiblebycontract。Finally,thereisthequestion:\"Mayoneoftwoneighbouringnationsortribesresistanotherwhenattemptingtoimposeuponthemacertainmodeofusingaparticularsoil;as,forinstance,atribeofhuntersmakingsuchanattemptinrelationtoapastoralpeople,orthelattertoagriculturistsandsuchlike?\"

Certainly。Forthemodeinwhichsuchpeoplesortribesmaysettlethemselvesuponthesurfaceoftheearth,providedtheykeepwithintheirownboundaries,isamatterofmerepleasureandchoiceontheirownpart(resmeraefacultatis)。

Asafurtherquestion,itmaybeaskedwhether,whenneithernaturenorchance,butmerelyourownwill,bringsusintotheneighbourhoodofapeoplethatgivesnopromiseofaprospectofenteringintocivilunionwithus,wearetobeconsideredentitledinanycasetoproceedwithforceintheintentionoffoundingsuchaunion,andbringingintoajuridicalstatesuchmenasthesavageAmericanIndians,theHottentots,andtheNewHollanders;or—andthecaseisnotmuchbetter—whetherwemayestablishcoloniesbydeceptivepurchase,andsobecomeownersoftheirsoil,and,ingeneral,withoutregardtotheirfirstpossession,makeuseatwillofoursuperiorityinrelationtothem?Further,mayitnotbeheldthatNatureherself,asabhorringavacuum,seemstodemandsuchaprocedure,andthatlargeregionsinothercontinents,thatarenowmagnificentlypeopled,wouldotherwisehaveremainedunpossessedbycivilizedinhabitantsandmighthaveforeverremainedthus,sothattheendofcreationwouldhavesofarbeenfrustrated?Itisalmostunnecessarytoanswer;foritiseasytoseethroughallthisflimsyveilofinjustice,whichjustamountstotheJesuitismofmakingagoodendjustifyanymeans。Thismodeofacquiringthesoilis,therefore,toberepudiated。

Theindefinitenessofexternalacquirableobjectsinrespectoftheirquantity,aswellastheirquality,makestheproblemofthesoleprimaryexternalacquisitionofthemoneofthemostdifficulttosolve。Theremust,however,besomeonefirstacquisitionofanexternalobject;foreveryAcquisitioncannotbederivative。Hence,theproblemisnottobegivenupasinsolubleorinitselfasimpossible。Ifitissolvedbyreferencetotheoriginalcontract,unlessthiscontractisextendedsoastoincludethewholehumanrace,acquisitionunderitwouldstillremainbutprovisional。

16。ExpositionoftheConceptionofaPrimaryAcquisitionoftheSoil。

Allmenareoriginallyinacommoncollectivepossessionofthesoilofthewholeearth(communiofundioriginaria),andtheyhavenaturallyeachawilltouseit(lexjusti)。Butonaccountoftheoppositionofthefreewillofonetothatoftheotherinthesphereofaction,whichisinevitablebynature,alluseofthesoilwouldbepreventeddidnoteverywillcontainatthesametimealawfortheregulationoftherelationofallwillsinaction,accordingtowhichaparticularpossessioncanbedeterminedtoeveryoneuponthecommonsoil。Thisisthejuridicallaw(lexjuridica)。Butthedistributivelawofthemineandthine,asapplicabletoeachindividualonthesoil,accordingtotheaxiomofexternalfreedom,cannotproceedotherwisethanfromaprimarilyunitedwillapriori—

whichdoesnotpresupposeanyjuridicalactasrequisiteforthisunion。ThisLawcanonlytakeforminthecivilstate(lexjustitiaedistributivae);asitisinthisstatealonethattheunitedcommonwilldetermineswhatisright,whatisrightful,andwhatistheconstitutionofRight。Inreferencetothisstate,however—andpriortoitsestablishmentandinviewofit—itisprovisorilyadutyforeveryonetoproceedaccordingtothelawofexternalacquisition;

andaccordinglyitisajuridicalprocedureonthepartofthewilltolayeveryoneunderobligationtorecognisetheactofpossessingandappropriating,althoughitbeonlyunilaterally。Henceaprovisoryacquisitionofthesoil,withallitsjuridicalconsequences,ispossibleinthestateofnature。

Suchanacquisition,however,requiresandalsoobtainsthefavourofapermissivelaw(lexpermissiva),inrespectofthedeterminationofthelimitsofjuridicallypossiblepossession。Foritprecedesthejuridicalstate,andasmerelyintroductorytoitisnotyetperemptory;andthisfavourdoesnotextendfartherthanthedateoftheconsentoftheotherco—operatorsintheestablishmentofthecivilstate。Butiftheyareopposedtoenteringintothecivilstate,aslongasthisoppositionlastsitcarriesalltheeffectofaguaranteedjuridicalacquisitionwithit,becausetheadvancefromthestateofnaturetothecivilstateisfoundeduponaduty。

17。DeductionoftheConceptionoftheOriginalPrimaryAcquisition。

Wehavefoundthetitleofacquisitioninauniversaloriginalcommunityofthesoil,undertheconditionsofanexternalacquisitioninspace;andthemodeofacquisitioniscontainedintheempiricalfactoftakingpossession(apprehensio),conjoinedwiththewilltohaveanexternalobjectasone’sown。Itisfurthernecessarytounfold,fromtheprinciplesofthepurejuridicallypracticalreasoninvolvedintheconception,thejuridicalacquisitionproperofanobject—thatis,theexternalmineandthinethatfollowsfromthetwopreviousconditions,asrationalpossession(possessionoumenon)。

Thejuridicalconceptionoftheexternalmineandthine,sofarasitinvolvesthecategoryofsubstance,cannotby\"thatwhichisexternaltome\"meanmerely\"inaplaceotherthanthatinwhichI

am\";foritisarationalconception。Asundertheconceptionsofthereasononlyintellectualconceptionscanbeembraced,theexpressioninquestioncanonlysignify\"somethingthatisdifferentanddistinctfromme\"accordingtotheideaofanon—empiricalpossessionthrough,asitwere,acontinuousactivityintakingpossessionofanexternalobject;anditinvolvesonlythenotionofhavingsomethinginmypower,whichindicatestheconnectionofanobjectwithmyself,asasubjectiveconditionofthepossibilityofmakinguseofit。Thisformsapurelyintellectualconceptionoftheunderstanding。Nowwecanleaveoutorabstractfromthesensibleconditionsofpossession,asrelationsofapersontoobjectswhichhavenoobligation。Thisprocessofeliminationjustgivestherationalrelationofapersontopersons;anditissuchthathecanbindthemallbyanobligationinreferencetotheuseofthingsthroughhisactofwill,sofarasitisconformabletotheaxiomoffreedom,thepostulateofright,andtheuniversallegislationofthecommonwill,conceivedasunitedapriori。Thisisthereforetherationalintelligiblepossessionofthingsasbypureright,althoughtheyareobjectsofsense。

Itisevidentthatthefirstmodification,limitation,ortransformationgenerally,ofaportionofthesoilcannotofitselffurnishatitletoitsacquisition,sincepossessionofanaccidentdoesnotformagroundforlegalpossessionofthesubstance。

Rather,conversely,theinferenceastothemineandthinemustbedrawnfromownershipofthesubstanceaccordingtotherule:

Accessariumsequitursuumprincipale。Henceonewhohasspentlabouronapieceofgroundthatwasnotalreadyhisown,haslosthiseffortandworktotheformerowner。Thispositionissoevidentofitselfthattheoldopiniontotheoppositeeffect,thatisstillspreadfarandwide,canhardlybeascribedtoanyotherthantheprevailingillusionwhichunconsciouslyleadstothepersonificationofthings;and,then,asiftheycouldbeboundunderanobligationbythelabourbestoweduponthemtobeattheserviceofthepersonwhodoesthelabour,toregardthemashisbyimmediateright。Otherwiseitisprobablethatthenaturalquestion—alreadydiscussed—wouldnothavebeenpassedoverwithsolightatread,namely:\"Howisarightinathingpossible?\"For,rightasagainsteverypossiblepossessorofathingmeansonlytheclaimofaparticularwilltotheuseofanobjectsofarasitmaybeincludedintheall—comprehendinguniversalwill,andcanbethoughtasinharmonywithitslaw。

Asregardsbodiessituateduponapieceofgroundwhichisalreadymine,iftheyotherwisebelongtonootherperson,theybelongtomewithoutmyrequiringanyparticularjuridicalactforthepurposeofthisacquisition;theyareminenotfacto,butlege。Fortheymayberegardedasaccidentsinheringinthesubstanceofthesoil,andtheyarethusminejurereimeae。Tothiscategoryalsobelongseverythingwhichissoconnectedwithanythingofminethatitcannotbeseparatedfromwhatisminewithoutalteringitsubstantially。Examplesofthisaregildingonanobject,mixtureofamaterialbelongingtomewithotherthings,alluvialdeposit,orevenalterationoftheadjoiningbedofastreamorriverinmyfavoursoastoproduceanincreaseofmyland,etc。Bythesameprinciples,thequestionmustalsobedecidedastowhethertheacquirablesoilmayextendfartherthantheexistingland,soaseventoincludepartofthebedofthesea,withtherighttofishonmyownshores,togatheramberandsuchlike。SofarasIhavethemechanicalcapabilityfrommyownsite,astheplaceIoccupy,tosecuremysoilfromtheattackofothers—and,therefore,asfarascannoncancarryfromtheshore—allisincludedinmypossession,andtheseaisthusfarclosed(mareclausum)。Butasthereisnositeforoccupationuponthewideseaitself,possiblepossessioncannotbeextendedsofar,andtheopenseaisfree(mareliberum)。Butinthecaseofmen,orthingsthatbelongtothem,becomingstrandedontheshore,sincethefactisnotvoluntary,itcannotberegardedbytheowneroftheshoreasgivinghimarightofacquisition。Forshipwreckisnotanactofwill,norisitsresultalesiontohim;andthingswhichmayhavecomethusuponhissoil,asstillbelongingtosomeone,arenottobetreatedasbeingwithoutanownerorresnullius。

Ontheotherhand,ariver,sofaraspossessionofthebankreaches,maybeoriginallyacquired,likeanyotherpieceofground,undertheaboverestrictions,byonewhoisinpossessionofbothitsbanks。

PROPERTY。

Anexternalobject,whichinrespectofitssubstancecanbeclaimedbysomeoneashisown,iscalledtheproperty(dominium)ofthatpersontowhomalltherightsinitasathingbelong—liketheaccidentsinheringinasubstance—andwhich,therefore,heastheproprietor(dominus)candisposeofatwill(jusdisponendideresua)。Butfromthisitfollowsatoncethatsuchanobjectcanonlybeacorporealthingtowardswhichthereisnodirectpersonalobligation。Henceamanmaybehisownmaster(suijuris)butnottheproprietorofhimself(suidominus),soastobeabletodisposeofhimselfatwill,tosaynothingofthepossibilityofsucharelationtoothermen;becauseheisresponsibletohumanityinhisownperson。Thispoint,however,asbelongingtotherightofhumanityassuch,ratherthantothatofindividualmen,wouldnotbediscussedatitsproperplacehere,butisonlymentionedincidentallyforthebetterelucidationofwhathasjustbeensaid。Itmaybefurtherobservedthattheremaybetwofullproprietorsofoneandthesamething,withouttherebeingamineandthineincommon,butonlyinsofarastheyarecommonpossessorsofwhatbelongsonlytooneofthemashisown。Insuchacasethewholepossession,withouttheuseofthething,belongstooneonlyoftheco—proprietors(condomini);whiletotheothersbelongsalltheuseofthethingalongwithitspossession。Theformerasthedirectproprietor(dominusdirectus),therefore,restrictsthelatterastheproprietorinuse(dominusutilis)totheconditionofacertaincontinuousperformance,withreferencetothethingitself,withoutlimitinghimintheuseofit。

SECTIONII。PrinciplesofPersonalRight。

18。NatureandAcquisitionofPersonalRight。

Thepossessionoftheactivefree—willofanotherperson,asthepowertodetermineitbymywilltoacertainaction,accordingtolawsoffreedom,isaformofrightrelatingtotheexternalmineandthine,asaffectedbythecausalityofanother。Itispossibletohaveseveralsuchrightsinreferencetothesamepersonortodifferentpersons。Theprincipleofthesystemoflaws,accordingtowhichIcanbeinsuchpossession,isthatofpersonalright,andthereisonlyonesuchprinciple。

Theacquisitionofapersonalrightcanneverbeprimaryorarbitrary;forsuchamodeofacquiringitwouldnotbeinaccordancewiththeprincipleoftheharmonyofthefreedomofmywillwiththefreedomofeveryother,anditwouldthereforebewrong。

Norcansucharightbeacquiredbymeansofanyunjustactofanother(factoinjustialterius),asbeingitselfcontrarytoright;forifsuchawrongasitimplieswereperpetratedonme,andIcoulddemandsatisfactionfromtheother,inaccordancewithright,yetinsuchacaseIwouldonlybeentitledtomaintainundiminishedwhatwasmine,andnottoacquireanythingmorethanwhatIformerlyhad。

Acquisitionbymeansoftheactionofanother,towhichI

determinehiswillaccordingtolawsofright,isthereforealwaysderivedfromwhatthatotherhasashisown。Thisderivation,asajuridicalact,cannotbeeffectedbyamerenegativerelinquishmentorrenunciationofwhatishis(perderelictionemautrenunciationem);

becausesuchanegativeactwouldonlyamounttoacessationofhisright,andnottotheacquirementofarightonthepartofanother。

Itisthereforeonlybypositivetransference(translatio),orconveyance,thatapersonalrightcanbeacquired;andthisisonlypossiblebymeansofacommonwill,throughwhichobjectscomeintothepowerofoneorother,sothatasonerenouncesaparticularthingwhichheholdsunderthecommonright,thesameobjectwhenacceptedbyanother,inconsequenceofapositiveactofwill,becomeshis。

Suchtransferenceofthepropertyofonetoanotheristermeditsalienation。Theactoftheunitedwillsoftwopersons,bywhichwhatbelongedtoonepassestotheother,constitutescontract。

19。AcquisitionbyContract。

Ineverycontracttherearefourjuridicalactsofwillinvolved;

twoofthembeingpreparatoryacts,andtwoofthemconstitutiveacts。

Thetwopreparatoryacts,asformsoftreatinginthetransaction,areoffer(oblatio)andapproval(approbatio);thetwoconstitutiveacts,astheformsofconcludingthetransaction,arepromise(promissum)andacceptance(acceptatio)。Foranoffercannotconstituteapromisebeforeitcanbejudgedthatthethingoffered(oblatum)issomethingthatisagreeabletothepartytowhomitisoffered,andthismuchisshownbythefirsttwodeclarations;butbythemalonethereisnothingasyetacquired。

Further,itisneitherbytheparticularwillofthepromisernorthatoftheacceptorthatthepropertyoftheformerpassesovertothelatter。Thisiseffectedonlybythecombinedorunitedwillsofboth,andconsequentlysofaronlyasthewillofbothisdeclaredatthesametimeorsimultaneously。Now,suchsimultaneousnessisimpossiblebyempiricalactsofdeclaration,whichcanonlyfolloweachotherintimeandareneveractuallysimultaneous。ForifI

havepromised,andanotherpersonisnowmerelywillingtoaccept,duringtheintervalbeforeactualacceptance,howevershortitmaybe,Imayretractmyoffer,becauseIamthusfarstillfree;and,ontheotherside,theacceptor,forthesamereason,maylikewiseholdhimselfnottobebound,uptillthemomentofacceptance,byhiscounter—declarationfollowinguponthepromise。Theexternalformalitiesorsolemnities(solemnia)ontheconclusionofacontract—

suchasshakinghandsorbreakingastraw(stipula)laidholdofbytwopersons—andallthevariousmodesofconfirmingthedeclarationsoneitherside,proveinfacttheembarrassmentofthecontractingpartiesastohowandinwhatwaytheymayrepresentdeclarations,whicharealwayssuccessive,asexistingsimultaneouslyatthesamemoment;andtheseformsfailtodothis。

Theyare,bytheirverynature,actsnecessarilyfollowingeachotherintime,sothatwhentheoneactis,theothereitherisnotyetorisnolonger。

Itisonlythephilosophicaltranscendentaldeductionoftheconceptionofacquisitionbycontractthatcanremoveallthesedifficulties。Inajuridicalexternalrelation,mytakingpossessionofthefree—willofanother,asthecausethatdeterminedittoacertainact,isconceivedatfirstempiricallybymeansofthedeclarationandcounter—declarationofthefree—willofeachofusintime,asthesensibleconditionsoftakingpossession;andthetwojuridicalactsmustnecessarilyberegardedasfollowingoneanotherintime。Butbecausethisrelation,viewedasjuridical,ispurelyrationalinitself,thewillasalaw—givingfacultyofreasonrepresentsthispossessionasintelligibleorrational(possessionoumenon),inaccordancewithconceptionsoffreedomandunderabstractionofthoseempiricalconditions。Andnow,thetwoactsofpromiseandacceptancearenotregardedasfollowingoneanotherintime,but,inthemannerofapactumreinitum,asproceedingfromacommonwill,whichisexpressedbytheterm\"atthesametime,\"or\"simultaneous,\"andtheobjectpromised(promissum)isrepresented,undereliminationofempiricalconditions,asacquiredaccordingtothelawofthepurepracticalreason。

ThatthisisthetrueandonlypossibledeductionoftheideaofacquisitionbycontractissufficientlyattestedbythelaboriousyetalwaysfutilestrivingofwritersonjurisprudencesuchasMosesMendelssohninhisJerusalem—toadduceaproofofitsrationalpossibility。Thequestionisputthus:\"WhyoughtItokeepmyPromise?\"ForitisassumedasunderstoodbyallthatIoughttodoso。Itis,however,absolutelyimpossibletogiveanyfurtherproofofthecategoricalimperativeimplied;justasitisimpossibleforthegeometriciantoprovebyrationalsyllogismsthatinordertoconstructatriangleImusttakethreelines—sofarananalyticalproposition—ofwhichthreelinesanytwotogethermustbegreaterthanthethird—asyntheticalproposition,andliketheformerapriori。Itisapostulateofthepurereasonthatweoughttoabstractfromallthesensibleconditionsofspaceandtimeinreferencetotheconceptionofright;andthetheoryofthepossibilityofsuchabstractionfromtheseconditions,withouttakingawaytherealityofthepossession,justconstitutesthetranscendentaldeductionoftheconceptionofacquisitionbycontract。Itisquiteakintowhatwaspresentedunderthelasttitle,asthetheoryofacquisitionbyoccupationoftheexternalobject。

20。WhatisAcquiredbyContract。

Butwhatisthat,designatedasexternal,whichIacquirebycontract?Asitisonlythecausalityoftheactivewillofanother,inrespectoftheperformanceofsomethingpromisedtome,Idonotimmediatelyacquiretherebyanexternalthing,butanactofthewillinquestion,wherebyathingisbroughtundermypowersothatImakeitmine。Bythecontract,therefore,Iacquirethepromiseofanother,asdistinguishedfromthethingpromised;andyetsomethingistherebyaddedtomyhavingandpossession。Ihavebecomethericherinpossession(locupletior)bytheacquisitionofanactiveobligationthatIcanbringtobearuponthefreedomandcapabilityofanother。

Thismyright,however,isonlyapersonalright,validonlytotheeffectofactinguponaparticularphysicalpersonandspeciallyuponthecausalityofhiswill,sothatheshallperformsomethingforme。Itisnotarealrightuponthatmoralperson,whichisidentifiedwiththeideaoftheunitedwillofallviewedapriori,andthroughwhichaloneIcanacquirearightvalidagainsteverypossessorofthething。For,itisinthisthatallrightinathingconsists。

Thetransferortransmissionofwhatisminetoanotherbycontract,takesplaceaccordingtothelawofcontinuity(lexcontinui)。

Possessionoftheobjectisnotinterruptedforamomentduringthisact;for,otherwise,Iwouldacquireanobjectinthisstateasathingthathadnopossessor,anditwouldthusbeacquiredoriginally,whichiscontrarytotheideaofacontract。Thiscontinuity,however,impliesthatitisnottheparticularwillofeitherthepromiserortheacceptor,buttheirunitedwillincommon,thattransferswhatisminetoanother。Andhenceitisnotaccomplishedinsuchamannerthatthepromiserfirstrelinquishes(derelinquit)hispossessionforthebenefitofanother,orrenounceshisright(renunciat),andthereupontheotheratthesametimeentersuponit;orconversely。Thetransfer(translatio)isthereforeanactinwhichtheobjectbelongsforamomentatthesametimetoboth,justasintheparabolicpathofaprojectiletheobjectonreachingitshighestpointmayberegardedforamomentasatthesametimebothrisingandfalling,andasthuspassinginfactfromtheascendingtothefallingmotion。

21。AcceptanceandDelivery。

Athingisnotacquiredinacaseofcontractbytheacceptance(acceptatio)ofthepromise,butonlybythedelivery(traditio)oftheobjectpromised。Forallpromiseisrelativetoperformance;andifwhatwaspromisedisathing,theperformancecannotbeexecutedotherwisethanbyanactwherebytheacceptorisputbythepromiserintopossessionofthething;andthisisdelivery。Beforethedeliveryandthereceptionofthething,theperformanceoftheactrequiredhasnotyettakenplace;thethinghasnotyetpassedfromtheonepersontotheotherand,consequently,hasnotbeenacquiredbythatother。Hencetherightarisingfromacontractisonlyapersonalright;anditonlybecomesarealrightbydelivery。

Acontractuponwhichdeliveryimmediatelyfollows(pactumreinitum)excludesanyintervaloftimebetweenitsconclusionanditsexecution;andassuchitrequiresnofurtherparticularactinthefuturebywhichonepersonmaytransfertoanotherwhatishis。Butifthereisatime—definiteorindefinite—agreeduponbetweenthemforthedelivery,thequestionthenariseswhetherthethinghasalreadybeforethattimebecometheacceptor’sbythecontract,sothathisrightisarightinthething;orwhetherafurtherspecialcontractregardingthedeliveryalonemustbeenteredupon,sothattherightthatisacquiredbymereacceptanceisonlyapersonalright,andthusitdoesnotbecomearightinthethinguntildelivery?Thattherelationmustbedeterminedaccordingtothelatteralternativewillbeclearfromwhatfollows。

SupposeIconcludeacontractaboutathingthatIwishtoacquire—suchasahorse—andthatItakeitimmediatelyintomystable,orotherwiseintomypossession;thenitismine(vipactireiniti),andmyrightisarightinthething。ButifIleaveitinthehandsofthesellerwithoutarrangingwithhimspeciallyinwhosephysicalpossessionorholding(detentio)thisthingshallbebeforemytakingpossessionofit(apprehensio),andconsequently,beforetheactualchangeofpossession,thehorseisnotyetmine;andtherightwhichIacquireisonlyarightagainstaparticularperson—

namely,thesellerofthehorse—tobeputintopossessionoftheobject(poscenditraditionem)asthesubjectiveconditionofanyuseofitatmywill。Myrightisthusonlyapersonalrighttodemandfromthesellertheperformanceofhispromise(praestatio)toputmeintopossessionofthething。Now,ifthecontractdoesnotcontaintheconditionofdeliveryatthesametime—asapactumreinitum—andconsequentlyanintervaloftimeintervenesbetweentheconclusionofthecontractandthetakingpossessionoftheobjectofacquisition,Icannotobtainpossessionofitduringthisintervalotherwisethanbyexercisingtheparticularjuridicalactivitycalledapossessoryact(actumpossessorium),whichconstitutesaspecialcontract。Thisactconsistsinmysaying,\"Iwillsendtofetchthehorse,\"towhichthesellerhastoagree。Foritisnotself—evidentoruniversallyreasonablethatanyonewilltakeathingdestinedfortheuseofanotherintohischargeathisownrisk。

Onthecontrary,aspecialcontractisnecessaryforthisarrangement,accordingtowhichthealienatorofathingcontinuestobeitsownerduringacertaindefinitetime,andmustbeartheriskofwhatevermayhappentoit;whiletheacquirercanonlyberegardedbythesellerastheownerwhenhehasdelayedtoenterintopossessionbeyondthedateatwhichheagreedtotakedelivery。

Priortothepossessoryact,therefore,allthatisacquiredbythecontractisonlyapersonalright;andtheacceptorcanacquireanexternalthingonlybydelivery。

SECTIONIII。PrinciplesofPersonalRightthatisRealinKind。(JusRealiterPersonale)。

22。NatureofPersonalRightofaRealKind。

Personalrightofarealkindistherighttothepossessionofanexternalobjectasathing,andtotheuseofitasaperson。Themineandthineembracedunderthisrightrelatespeciallytothefamilyandhousehold;andtherelationsinvolvedarethoseoffreebeingsinreciprocalrealinteractionwitheachother。Throughtheirrelationsandinfluenceaspersonsupononeanother,inaccordancewiththeprincipleofexternalfreedomasthecauseofit,theyformasocietycomposedasawholeofmembersstandingincommunitywitheachotheraspersons;andthisconstitutesthehousehold。Themodeinwhichthissocialstatusisacquiredbyindividuals,andthefunctionswhichprevailwithinit,proceedneitherbyarbitraryindividualaction(facto),norbymerecontract(pacto),butbylaw(lege)。Andthislawasbeingnotonlyaright,butalsoasconstitutingpossessioninreferencetoaperson,isarightrisingaboveallmererealandpersonalright。Itmust,infact,formtherightofhumanityinourownperson;and,assuch,ithasasitsconsequenceanaturalpermissivelaw,bythefavourofwhichsuchacquisitionbecomespossibletous。

23。Whatisacquiredinthehousehold。

Theacquisitionthatisfoundeduponthislawis,asregardsitsobjects,threefold。Themanacquiresawife;thehusbandandwifeacquirechildren,constitutingafamily;andthefamilyacquiredomestics。Alltheseobjects,whileacquirable,areinalienable;andtherightofpossessionintheseobjectsisthemoststrictlypersonalofallrights。

TheRightsoftheFamilyasaDomesticSocietyTitleI。ConjugalRight。(HusbandandWife)

24。TheNaturalBasisofMarriage。

Thedomesticrelationsarefoundedonmarriage,andmarriageisfoundeduponthenaturalreciprocityorintercommunity(commercium)ofthesexes。*Thisnaturalunionofthesexesproceedsaccordingtothemereanimalnature(vagalibido,venusvulgivaga,fornicatio),oraccordingtothelaw。Thelatterismarriage(matrimonium),whichistheunionoftwopersonsofdifferentsexforlife—longreciprocalpossessionoftheirsexualfaculties。Theendofproducingandeducatingchildrenmayberegardedasalwaystheendofnatureinimplantingmutualdesireandinclinationinthesexes;

butitisnotnecessaryfortherightfulnessofmarriagethatthosewhomarryshouldsetthisbeforethemselvesastheendoftheirunion,otherwisethemarriagewouldbedissolvedofitselfwhentheproductionofchildrenceased。

*Commerciumsexualeestususmembrorumetfacultatumsexualiumalterius。This\"usus\"iseithernatural,bywhichhumanbeingsmayreproducetheirownkind,orunnatural,which,again,referseithertoapersonofthesamesexortoananimalofanotherspeciesthanman。Thesetransgressionsofalllaw,ascriminacarniscontranaturam,areeven\"nottobenamed\";and,aswrongsagainstallhumanityintheperson,theycannotbesaved,byanylimitationorexceptionwhatever,fromentirereprobation。

Andevenassumingthatenjoymentinthereciprocaluseofthesexualendowmentsisanendofmarriage,yetthecontractofmarriageisnotonthataccountamatterofarbitrarywill,butisacontractnecessaryinitsnaturebythelawofhumanity。Inotherwords,ifamanandawomanhavethewilltoenteronreciprocalenjoymentinaccordancewiththeirsexualnature,theymustnecessarilymarryeachother;andthisnecessityisinaccordancewiththejuridicallawsofpurereason。

25。TheRationalRightofMarriage。

For,thisnaturalcommercium—asaususmembrorumsexualiumalterius—isanenjoymentforwhichtheonepersonisgivenuptotheother。Inthisrelationthehumanindividualmakeshimselfares,whichiscontrarytotherightofhumanityinhisownperson。

This,however,isonlypossibleundertheonecondition,thatastheonepersonisacquiredbytheotherasares,thatsamepersonalsoequallyacquirestheotherreciprocally,andthusregainsandreestablishestherationalpersonality。Theacquisitionofapartofthehumanorganismbeing,onaccountofitsunity,atthesametimetheacquisitionofthewholeperson,itfollowsthatthesurrenderandacceptationof,orby,onesexinrelationtotheother,isnotonlypermissibleundertheconditionofmarriage,butisfurtheronlyreallypossibleunderthatcondition。Butthepersonalrightthusacquiredis,atthesametime,realinkind;andthischaracteristicofitisestablishedbythefactthatifoneofthemarriedpersonsrunawayorenterintothepossessionofanother,theotherisentitled,atanytime,andincontestably,tobringsuchaonebacktotheformerrelation,asifthatpersonwereathing。

26。MonogamyandEqualityinMarriage。

Forthesamereasons,therelationofthemarriedpersonstoeachotherisarelationofequalityasregardsthemutualpossessionoftheirpersons,aswellasoftheirgoods。Consequentlymarriageisonlytrulyrealizedinmonogamy;forintherelationofpolygamythepersonwhoisgivenawayontheoneside,gainsonlyapartoftheonetowhomthatpersonisgivenup,andthereforebecomesamereres。Butinrespectoftheirgoods,theyhaveseverallytherighttorenouncetheuseofanypartofthem,althoughonlybyaspecialcontract。

Fromtheprinciplethusstated,italsofollowsthatconcubinageisaslittlecapableofbeingbroughtunderacontractofrightasthehiringofapersononanyoneoccasion,inthewayofapactumfornicationis。For,asregardssuchacontractasthislatterrelationwouldimply,itmustbeadmittedbyallthatanyonewhomightenterintoitcouldnotbelegallyheldtothefulfillmentoftheirpromiseiftheywishedtoresilefromit。Andasregardstheformer,acontractofconcubinagewouldalsofallasapactumturpe;becauseasacontractofthehire(locatio,conductio),ofapartfortheuseofanother,onaccountoftheinseparableunityofthemembersofaperson,anyoneenteringintosuchacontractwouldbeactuallysurrenderingasarestothearbitrarywillofanother。Henceanypartymayannulacontractlikethisifenteredintowithanyother,atanytimeandatpleasure;andthatotherwouldhavenoground,inthecircumstances,tocomplainofalesionofhisright。Thesameholdslikewiseofamorganaticor\"left—hand\"marriage,contractedinordertoturntheinequalityinthesocialstatusofthetwopartiestoadvantageinthewayofestablishingthesocialsupremacyoftheoneovertheother;for,infact,sucharelationisnotreallydifferentfromconcubinage,accordingtotheprinciplesofnaturalright,andthereforedoesnotconstitutearealmarriage。Hencethequestionmayberaisedastowhetheritisnotcontrarytotheequalityofmarriedpersonswhenthelawsaysinanywayofthehusbandinrelationtothewife,\"heshallbethymaster,\"sothatheisrepresentedastheonewhocommands,andsheistheonewhoobeys。This,however,cannotberegardedascontrarytothenaturalequalityofahumanpair,ifsuchlegalsupremacyisbasedonlyuponthenaturalsuperiorityofthefacultiesofthehusbandcomparedwiththewife,intheeffectuationofthecommoninterestofthehousehold,andiftherighttocommandisbasedmerelyuponthisfact。

Forthisrightmaythusbededucedfromtheverydutyofunityandequalityinrelationtotheendinvolved。

27。FulfillmentoftheContractofMarriage。

Thecontractofmarriageiscompletedonlybyconjugalcohabitation。

Acontractoftwopersonsofdifferentsex,withthesecretunderstandingeithertoabstainfromconjugalcohabitationorwiththeconsciousnessoneithersideofincapacityforit,isasimulatedcontract;itdoesnotconstituteamarriage,anditmaybedissolvedbyeitherofthepartiesatwill。Butiftheincapacityonlyarisesaftermarriage,therightofthecontractisnotannulledordiminishedbyacontingencythatcannotbelegallyblamed。

Theacquisitionofaspouse,eitherasahusbandorasawife,isthereforenotconstitutedfacto—thatis,bycohabitation—withoutaprecedingcontract;norevenpacto—byamerecontractofmarriage,withoutsubsequentcohabitation;butonlylege,thatis,asajuridicalconsequenceoftheobligationthatisformedbytwopersonsenteringintoasexualunionsolelyonthebasisofareciprocalpossessionofeachother,whichpossessionatthesametimeisonlyeffectedinrealitybythereciprocalususfacultatumsexualiumalterius。

TitleII。ParentalRight。(ParentandChild)。

28。TheRelationofParentandChild。

Fromthedutyofmantowardshimself—thatis,towardsthehumanityinhisownpersontherethusarisesapersonalrightonthepartofthemembersoftheoppositesexes,aspersons,toacquireoneanotherreallyandreciprocallybymarriage。Inlikemanner,fromthefactofprocreationintheunionthusconstituted,therefollowsthedutyofpreservingandrearingchildrenastheproductsofthisunion。Accordingly,children,aspersons,have,atthesametime,anoriginalcongenitalright—distinguishedfrommerehereditaryright—toberearedbythecareoftheirparentstilltheyarecapableofmaintainingthemselves;andthisprovisionbecomesimmediatelytheirsbylaw,withoutanyparticularjuridicalactbeingrequiredtodetermineit。

Forwhatisthusproducedisaperson,anditisimpossibletothinkofabeingendowedwithpersonalfreedomasproducedmerelybyaphysicalprocess。Andhence,inthepracticalrelation,itisquiteacorrectandevenanecessaryideatoregardtheactofgenerationasaprocessbywhichapersonisbroughtwithouthisconsentintotheworldandplacedinitbytheresponsiblefreewillofothers。Thisact,therefore,attachesanobligationtotheparentstomaketheirchildren—asfarastheirpowergoes—contentedwiththeconditionthusacquired。Henceparentscannotregardtheirchildas,inamanner,athingoftheirownmaking;forabeingendowedwithfreedomcannotbesoregarded。Nor,consequently,havetheyarighttodestroyitasifitweretheirownproperty,oreventoleaveittochance;becausetheyhavebroughtabeingintotheworldwhobecomesinfactacitizenoftheworld,andtheyhaveplacedthatbeinginastatewhichtheycannotbelefttotreatwithindifference,evenaccordingtothenaturalconceptionsofright。

WecannotevenconceivehowitispossiblethatGodcancreatefreebeings;foritappearsasifalltheirfutureactions,beingpredeterminedbythatfirstact,wouldbecontainedinthechainofnaturalnecessity,andthat,therefore,theycouldnotbefree。Butasmenwearefreeinfact,asisprovedbythecategoricalimperativeinthemoralandpracticalrelationasanauthoritativedecisionofreason;yetreasoncannotmakethepossibilityofsucharelationofcausetoeffectconceivablefromthetheoreticalpointofview,becausetheyarebothsuprasensible。Allthatcanbedemandedofreasonundertheseconditionswouldmerelybetoprovethatthereisnocontradictioninvolvedintheconceptionofacreationoffreebeings;andthismaybedonebyshowingthatcontradictiononlyariseswhen,alongwiththecategoryofcausality,theconditionoftimeistransferredtotherelationofsuprasensiblethings。Thiscondition,asimplyingthatthecauseofaneffectmustprecedetheeffectasitsreason,isinevitableinthinkingtherelationofobjectsofsensetooneanother;andifthisconceptionofcausalityweretohaveobjectiverealitygiventoitinthetheoreticalbearing,itwouldalsohavetobereferredtothesuprasensiblesphere。Butthecontradictionvanisheswhenthepurecategory,apartfromanysensibleconditions,isappliedfromthemoralandpracticalpointofview,andconsequentlyasinanon—sensiblerelationtotheconceptionofcreation。

Thephilosophicaljuristwillnotregardthisinvestigation,whenthuscarriedbackeventotheultimateprinciplesofthetranscendentalphilosophy,asanunnecessarysubtletyinametaphysicofmorals,oraslosingitselfinaimlessobscurity,whenhetakesintoconsiderationthedifficultyofdoingjusticeinthisinquirytotheultimaterelationsoftheprinciplesofright。

29。TheRightsoftheParent。