date

[clx. 390] 1823 Feb. 9 Constitut
[clx. 390]

1823 Feb. 9

Constitut. Code

III Reason-giving

Ch 2. Constitutive

?.2. Remedy Publicity

Publ. Opin. Tribunal

Sections

Demarcation impossible

Nor yet with a view to action, to influence on the conduct of the individuals in question, are the above, any of them, the immediate efficient /immediately operating/ causes. Of action The sole efficient cause and the sole efficient cause if interest be taken in its most enlarged sense is interest: i.e. according to each mans conception /perception/ of what at the moment in question is his most forcibly influencing interest: the interest constituted by social sympathy and antipathy as well as that which is of purely self-regarding complection included.

Thus to the purpose of action to the aristocratical section belong all such individuals who in respect /by hope/ of factitious dignity, power or wealth are dependent on the members of the aristocratical section: so, to the democratical of those who by factitious dignity, power, affluence by all or any of these articles are aggregates /appertain/ to the aristocratical Section, at any moment of time any one who /whose affections and interests are/ by sympathy with the sufferings of thise belonging to the democratic section or by antipathy towards /produced by dissension with/ this or that portion of the aristocratical section is thus transferred in reality /to the practical purpose in question/ to the side opposite to that on which he is seated in appearance.
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  • Title: [[clx. 389] 1823. Feb. 9 Constitut]
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    ?. Between the two Sections - i.e. the members of the one and those of the other, no line of demarcation line can be drawn but that which is drawn by difference in respect of interest.

    As to distinction between these two Sections to draw for any instant of time any determinate boundary line - a line on the one side of which shall be the situation of the several individuals belonging to the one section, on the other side all the several individuals belonging to the other, is plainly impossible is plainly precluded by the nature of the case. is neither possible nor any thing like necessary. \ZA\ Speak to necessity afterwards. If of the superiority in question there were but one element, say /[...?]/ factitious dignity, yes: to the aristocratical belong all who /by whom/ possess any [...?] particle, however small, of this creature of the imagination: to the democratical all who have not any particle of it. So perhaps, if instead of the factitious dignity it were power: understand political power, to the exclusion of domestic. So far then as depends upon two of the efficient causes of /species of matter of which/ aristocratical superiority /is composed/, yes. But what remains is the third, consisting /composed of the matter/ of wealth. To this article attach two causes of impossibility: one consisting of /constituent being the article of/ quantity the other being that of time

    First as to quantity. As where physical light is concerned it is impossible to say where brightness /dulness/ ends and gives place to dulness /brightness/, so is it to say where poverty or indigence ends and gives place to affluence. So as to affection[?]

    2. So as to time. Suppose a /the/ quantity determined - the quantity and thereby the Section to which each man appertains. For to day good: but tomorrow, one man /some men in any number/, by encrease given to his quantity has from the indigent class mounted /been lifted/ up into the opulent: another /others/ from the affluent been sunk down into the indigent class.
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    4.

    Objection. Suppose the greatest happiness of this smallest number entitled to no regard, thus are they devoted to the destruction.

    5.

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    6.

    On no point is the interest of the many opposite to that of the few, except as to the being protected against depredation & oppression by the few.

    7.

    By no exercise of depredation or oppression on the few could the many fail to be equally plundered & oppressed.

    8.

    But in any proportion and with any degree of permanence, are the many liable to be plundered and oppressed by the few. Witness almost universal practice.

    9.

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    Objection. Still, even supposing a permanent line of separation between them, same interests must the few have in common with the many. See then to what parts in the field of thought and action, and government the intercommunity extends.

    12.

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    12 contin'd.

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    Quere this?

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    14.

    True, so far as regards matter of wealth, it is the interest of ruling few that so much as is necessary to the existence of the producing many be kept at their disposal: because, only in proportion as man exist, can they produce.

    15.

    No so in the case of factitious dignity. Of the ruling few it is the interest that there be factitious dignity: of the subject many, that there be none at all.

    [See the Papers on Factitious Dignity.]
  • Title: [[clx. 391] 1823 Feby. 9 Constitut]
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    1823 Feby. 9

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