How does the balance of property determine the form of government?

1. WHAT HE SAID (the record)

Record ledger

• BELIEF (undated): James Harrington argued that the balance of property determines the form of government because as property shifts from the hands of the king and the lords to the commons, it causes political disorder and instability. He believed that as long as this imbalance remains, no king can govern effectively, and the government cannot be considered good, since it would fail under a less prudent ruler. [1]
• BELIEF (undated): James Harrington believed that the balance of property determines the form of government. He argued that if one man holds the over-balance of property, it causes absolute monarchy; if the few hold it, it causes aristocracy or mixed monarchy; and if the whole people hold it, it causes democracy or popular government. (key quote above) [2]
• BELIEF (undated): James Harrington believed that the balance of property, particularly land, determines the form of government. He argued that when one man or a few men hold a majority of the land, it leads to either absolute monarchy or regulated monarchy, depending on whether there is a moderator to balance the nobility. "All government is interest, and the predominant interest gives the matter or foundation of the government." [3]
• BELIEF (undated): James Harrington believed that the balance of property determines the form of government, and that a model of popular government should be framed according to the present balance or state of property in England. "Practically propos'd according to Reason, confirm'd by the Scripture, and agreable to the the present Balance or State of Property in England." [4]
• BELIEF (undated): James Harrington believed that the balance of property in land determines the form of government. If property is diffused among the people, the empire is popular; if concentrated in the few, it is aristocratical or mixed monarchy; and if in one landlord to an overwhelming degree, it is absolute monarchy. "If the property in lands be so diffus'd thro the whole people that neither one landlord, nor a few landlords overbalance them, the empire is popular. If the property in lands be so ingrost by the few, that they overbalance the whole people, the empire is aristocratical, or mix'd monarchy; but if property in lands be in one landlord, to such a proportion as overbalances the whole people, the empire is absolute monarchy." [5]
• BELIEF (undated): James Harrington believed that the balance of property in land determines the form of government. If a single person or nobility holds a majority of property, they govern; if the people hold the majority, they govern themselves. "So by this computation of the balance of property or dominion in the land, you have according to the threefold foundation of property, the root or generation of the threefold kind of government or empire." [6]
• BELIEF (undated): James Harrington believed that the balance of property is the cause of the triple way of government, and that the current balance in England is in the people, exclusively of a king and lords. "That the threefold balance, or distribution of property is the cause of the triple way of government, I fully consent with you; as also, that the balance now in England is in the people plainly, and exclusively both of a king and lords." [7]
• BELIEF (undated): James Harrington believed that the balance of property determines the form of government, as he argued that empire follows the nature of property and that the kind of government depends on the distribution of land. He proposed an agrarian law to fix the balance in property to establish a commonwealth. "SEEING it has bin sufficiently prov'd, that empire follows the nature of property; that the particular kind of empire or government depends upon the special distribution (except in small countrys) of land;" [8]
• BELIEF (undated): James Harrington believed that the form of government must either be fitted to the existing property structure or the property structure must be altered to fit the government form, with the former being more practical in his nation. This shows that he thought the balance of property significantly determines the form of government. "IN every frame of government, either the form must be fitted to the property as it stands, and this is only practicable in this nation; or the property must be alter'd and fitted to the frame" [9]
• BELIEF (undated): James Harrington believed that the balance of property determines the form of government, with an overbalance of land in one man creating absolute monarchy. He argues that when one person holds significantly more property than the rest of the people, it leads to a form of government where the people become servants to the wealthy individual. "The overbalance of land, three to one or therabouts, in one man against the whole people, creates absolute monarchy; as when Joseph had purchas'd all the lands of the Ægyptians for Pharaoh." [10]

What cuts against it

• The contrary-evidence entries are already in the record ledger above: [1], [2], [3], [4].

2. HOW IT APPLIES (reasoning; inference is marked)

1. James Harrington believed that the balance of property determines the form of government. He argued that the distribution of property, particularly land, is the foundation of political power. "If the property in lands be so diffus'd thro the whole people that neither one landlord, nor a few landlords overbalance them, the empire is popular." [5]

2. He proposed that if one man holds the over-balance of property, it causes absolute monarchy. "The overbalance of land, three to one or therabouts, in one man against the whole people, creates absolute monarchy." [10]

3. If the few hold the over-balance of property, it causes aristocracy or mixed monarchy. "If the few hold the over-balance unto the whole people in propriety, their propriety causeth aristocracy, or mixed monarchy." [2]

4. If the whole people hold the over-balance of property, it causes democracy or popular government. "If the whole people be neither over-balanced by the propriety of one, nor of a few, the propriety of the people, or of the many, causeth the democracy, or popular government." [2]

5. Harrington believed that the form of government must either be fitted to the existing property structure or the property structure must be altered to fit the government form. "IN every frame of government, either the form must be fitted to the property as it stands, and this is only practicable in this nation; or the property must be alter'd and fitted to the frame." [9]

3. HIS TAKE

Record coverage: DIRECT

James Harrington directly addressed the question of how the balance of property determines the form of government. He argued that the distribution of property, particularly land, is the foundation of political power. If property is diffused among the people, the empire is popular; if concentrated in the few, it is aristocratical or mixed monarchy; and if in one landlord to an overwhelming degree, it is absolute monarchy.

Extrapolation: James Harrington believed that the balance of property determines the form of government, with an overbalance of land in one man creating absolute monarchy, an overbalance in the few creating aristocracy or mixed monarchy, and an overbalance in the many creating democracy or popular government.

Competing readings: There is no competing reading in the record; Harrington's position is consistent across the passages.

Confidence: High, as the record directly addresses the question and Harrington's position is consistent across multiple passages.