The Generative Principle of Political Constitutions: Studies on Sovereignty, Religion and Enlightenment

316 Pages·1965·19.529 MB·English

by  Joseph de Maistre, Jack Lively

^ The .
Generative
Principle of
Political
Constitutions

The .
Generative
Principle of
Political
Constitutions
Studies on Sovereignty,
Religion, and Enlightenment
Joseph de Maistre
Jack Lively, editor and translator
With an introduction by the editor
13 Routledge
Taylor & Francis Group
LONDON AND NEW YORK
Originally published in 1965 by The Macmillan Company
Published 1965 by Transaction Publishers
Published 2017 by Routledge
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Copyright © 1965 by Jack Lively.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or
reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or
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trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation
without intent to infringe.
Library of Congress Catalog Number: 2011030697
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Maistre, Joseph Marie, comte de, 1753-1821.
[Selections. English. 1965]
The generative principle of political constitutions : studies on sover­
eignty, religion, and enlightenment / Joseph de Maistre ; Jack Lively,
editor.
p. cm.
Originally published: The works of Joseph de Maistre : selected,
translated and introduced by Jack Lively. New York : Macmillan, 1965.
ISBN 978-1-4128-4265-5
1. Political science. 2. Constitutional history. I. Lively, Jack.
II. Title. III. Title: Works of Joseph de Maistre.
JA42.M313 2011
320.01--dc23
2011030697
ISBN-13: 978-1-4128-4265-5 (pbk)
CONTENTS
Preface, xi
Introduction, 1
Life i
Maistre and His Interpreters 2
Maistre and the Enlightenment 8
Human Nature 9
The Human Condition 12
The Divine Voice in History 14
The Problem of Evil 21
The Political System 24
Revolutionary and Reactionary Thought 30
Considerations on France, 47
On Revolutions 47
Thoughts on the Ways of Providence in the French Revolution So
Of the Violent Destruction of Humanity 61
Can the French Republic Last? 65
On the French Revolution Considered in Its Antireligious
Character—Digression on Christianity 71
Of the Divine Influence in Political Constitutions 77
Signs of Nullity in the French Government 80
On the Old French Constitution—Digression on the King and
the Declaration to the French of July, 1795 85
How Will the Counter-Revolution Come About If It Happens? 86
Of the Pretended Dangers of a Counter-Revolution 88
Study on Sovereignty, 93
On the Origins of Sovereignty 93
The Sovereignty of the People 93
Origins of Society 94
Sovereignty in General 98
Particular Sovereignties and Nations 99
An Examination of Some Ideas of Rousseau on the Legislator 101
The Founders and the Political Constitution of Nations 102
The Weakness of Human Power 105
Continuation of the Same Subject 107
The National Soul 108
Application of the Preceding Principles to a Particular Case
—Continuation 109
A Necessary Explanation 111
On the Nature of Sovereignty 112
The Nature of Sovereignty in General 112
Monarchy 113
On Aristocracy 119
Democracy 119
The Best Species of Government 126
Continuation of the Same Subject 126
Reflections on This Subject 128
The Pope, 131
Of the Pope in His Relations with the Catholic Church
Infallibility 131
Councils 133
Analogies Derived from Temporal Power 133
Of the Pope in His Relations with Temporal Sovereignties 134
A Few Words on Sovereignty 134
Inconveniences of Sovereignty 135
Ideas of Antiquity on the Great Problem 138
Further Considerations on the Same Subject 140
Distinguishing Characteristics of the Power Exercised by the
Popes 141
Justification of Papal Power 141
Of the Pope in His Relations with the Civilization and Happiness
of Peoples 143
Civil Liberty of Mankind 143
Essay on the Generative Principle of Political
Constitutions, 147
The Saint Petersburg Dialogues, 183
First Dialogue 183
Second Dialogue 195
Third Dialogue 211
Fourth Dialogue 212
Fifth Dialogue 222
Sixth Dialogue 237
Seventh Dialogue 245
Eighth Dialogue 259
Ninth Dialogue 269
Tenth Dialogue 274
Eleventh Dialogue 287
Enlightenment on Sacrifices, 291
Sacrifices in General 291
Human Sacrifices 295
The Christian Theory of Sacrifices 297
Index, 299