What are the duties of a sovereign?

Translation: quotations from Samuel von Pufendorf are quoted in Basil Kennett's 1729 English translation (with others; 4th edition, with Barbeyrac's notes), not his original words.

OCR: 10 cited passage(s) are machine-read (OCR) text of old printings; quotations reproduce the stored OCR text, misreadings included.

1. WHAT HE SAID (the record)

Record ledger

• BELIEF (undated; OCR of an old printing; quoted in Basil Kennett's 1729 English translation (with others; 4th edition, with Barbeyrac's notes)): Samuel von Pufendorf believes that a sovereign must not injure his subjects and that subjects may not use violence against a lawful prince, even if he is a tyrant. He also argues that no princes are to be held sacred except those truly invested with royal authority. [1]
• BELIEF (undated; OCR of an old printing; quoted in Basil Kennett's 1729 English translation (with others; 4th edition, with Barbeyrac's notes)): Samuel von Pufendorf believed that a sovereign is obliged to govern well, as the passage indicates that the King is bound by promises to not oppress the subject and to govern in a manner that avoids misfortunes for the people under a royal state. [2]
• BELIEF (undated; OCR of an old printing; quoted in Basil Kennett's 1729 English translation (with others; 4th edition, with Barbeyrac's notes)): Samuel von Pufendorf believes that a sovereign must act within the limits of their authority and that subjects have an obligation to obey their commands or prohibitions. He argues that the sovereign power must be held sacred and inviolable, and that subjects cannot resist a lawful ruler within the bounds of their authority. [3]
• BELIEF (undated; OCR of an old printing; quoted in Basil Kennett's 1729 English translation (with others; 4th edition, with Barbeyrac's notes)): The passage discusses the duties of princes as sovereigns, emphasizing that they may strengthen and preserve their dominions by just ways. It also outlines maxims for the distribution of honours and rewards, and the governance of their subjects. [4]
• BELIEF (undated; OCR of an old printing; quoted in Basil Kennett's 1729 English translation (with others; 4th edition, with Barbeyrac's notes)): Samuel von Pufendorf believes that a sovereign is not obligated to alter their religion, as they believe their own to be better, but they have no right to hinder others from peacefully serving God according to their conscience. "'Tis npt for this Reafon : For the Sovereign doubtlefs believes his own Religion better than that vhich dif-fers from It; and as long as he is of this Perfuafion, nothing obliges him to alter ir But 'tis becaufe Sovereigns, of what Religion foever,have no Right to hinder any one from peaceably ferying GOD according to the Light" [5]
• BELIEF (undated; OCR of an old printing; quoted in Basil Kennett's 1729 English translation (with others; 4th edition, with Barbeyrac's notes)): Samuel von Pufendorf outlines the duties of sovereigns, including ensuring the people's safety, training subjects in good manners, enacting just laws, executing them fairly, inflicting penalties with justice and moderation, restraining subjects from mutual injuries, employing an able and honest ministry, laying taxes equally and gathering them rightly, advancing the state's wealth, prohibiting factions, and maintaining sufficient force to oppose foreign invaders. These duties are derived from examining the nature and end of civil communities and the proper offices belonging to sovereign power. [6]
• BELIEF (undated; OCR of an old printing; quoted in Basil Kennett's 1729 English translation (with others; 4th edition, with Barbeyrac's notes)): Samuel von Pufendorf believed that a sovereign must promulgate laws in a public and perspicuous manner, ensuring subjects know both the law-giver and the law. This is necessary for the law to exercise its directive force, as subjects must understand their obligations. [7]
• BELIEF (undated; OCR of an old printing; quoted in Basil Kennett's 1729 English translation (with others; 4th edition, with Barbeyrac's notes)): Samuel von Pufendorf believed that a magistrate does not have the power to make war as such, and that a general cannot make peace without the authority of his sovereign. He argued that war is a matter of such nature and consequence that it may involve the whole Commonwealth in danger, and therefore the power to declare and determine war must rest with the sovereign. [8]
• BELIEF (undated; OCR of an old printing; quoted in Basil Kennett's 1729 English translation (with others; 4th edition, with Barbeyrac's notes)): Samuel von Pufendorf believes that the sovereign has the power to make laws directing subjects in the use of their goods and estates, and to impose taxes upon them. This is grounded in his argument about the nature of sovereign authority over the subjects' property. "The Sovereign may make Laws to Jire& the Subjects in the Ufe of their Goods and Eflates, 4. And alfo impofe Taxes upon them." [9]
• BELIEF (undated; OCR of an old printing; quoted in Basil Kennett's 1729 English translation (with others; 4th edition, with Barbeyrac's notes)): Samuel von Pufendorf believed that a sovereign is obliged to keep the compacts made by his generals, commanders, and other military officers, provided these compacts do not exceed the power given to them by their posts or private orders. He also believed that if such a compact is made without orders but later ratified by the sovereign, it must be kept as if it had been made by his authority. This belief is grounded in the idea that the execution of treaties must not be evaded. "The Sovereign is obliged to keep the Cfl»j/>a(f?j which are made by his Generals, Commanders, and other Military Officers, whcnthejr contain nothing beyond the Power that their Pofts, or the Extent of private Orders they were charged with give them" [10]

What cuts against it

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

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

1. Samuel von Pufendorf outlines the duties of sovereigns in several passages, including ensuring the people's safety, training subjects in good manners, enacting just laws, and executing them fairly. [6]

2. He emphasizes that sovereigns must act within the limits of their authority and that subjects have an obligation to obey their commands or prohibitions. [3]

3. The sovereign is also required to maintain sufficient force to oppose foreign invaders and to prohibit factions. [6]

4. Samuel von Pufendorf believed that a sovereign must govern well and not oppress the subject, as indicated by the promises they make to their people. [2]

5. The belief that sovereigns must act within the limits of their authority and that subjects have an obligation to obey their commands is supported by the argument that sovereign power must be held sacred and inviolable. [3]

3. HIS TAKE

Record coverage: DIRECT

Extrapolation: Samuel von Pufendorf believed that the duties of a sovereign include ensuring the safety of the people, enacting and executing just laws, maintaining sufficient force to oppose foreign invaders, and prohibiting factions. He also emphasized the importance of acting within the limits of their authority and governing well without oppressing the subjects.

Competing readings: The record supports the reading that sovereigns must act within the limits of their authority and govern well without oppressing the subjects. The record itself states that sovereigns must not injure their subjects and that subjects may not use violence against a lawful prince, even if he is a tyrant. [1] [3]

Confidence: High, as the record directly addresses the duties of a sovereign and provides clear statements on the matter.