I.kant the Science of Right

8/8/2019 I.kant the Science of Right

1/87

1790

THE SCIENCE OF RIGHT by Immanual Kant

INTRODUCTION TO THE SCIENCE OF RIGHT.

GENERAL DEFINITIONS, AND DIVISIONS.

A. What the Science of Right is.

The Science of Right has fo its o!"ect the #inci#$es of a$$ the

$a%s %hich it is #ossi!$e to #o&'$gate !( e)tena$ $egis$ation. Whee

thee is s'ch a $egis$ation, it !eco&es, in act'a$ a##$ication to

it, a s(ste& of #ositi*e ight an+ $a% an+ he %ho is *ese+ in the

-no%$e+ge of this s(ste& is ca$$e+ a "'ist o "'iscons'$t

"'iscons'$t's/. A #actica$ "'iscons'$t "'is#eit's/, o a

#ofessiona$ $a%(e, is one %ho is s-i$$e+ in the -no%$e+ge of

#ositi*e e)tena$ $a%s, an+ %ho can a##$( the& to cases that &a( occ'

in e)#eience. S'ch #actica$ -no%$e+ge of #ositi*e ight, an+ $a%,

&a( !e ega+e+ as !e$onging to "'is#'+ence "'is#'+entia/ in

the oigina$ sense of the te&. 0't the theoetica$ -no%$e+ge of ight

an+ $a% in #inci#$e, as +isting'ishe+ fo& #ositi*e $a%s an+

eiica$ cases, !e$ongs to the #'e science of ight "'isscientia/.

The science of ight th's +esignates the #hi$oso#hica$ an+

s(ste&atic -no%$e+ge of the #inci#$es of nat'a$ ight. An+ it is

fo& this science that the i&&'ta!$e #inci#$es of a$$ #ositi*e

$egis$ation &'st !e +ei*e+ !( #actica$ "'ists an+ $a%gi*es.

0. What is Right1

This 2'estion &a( !e sai+ to !e a!o't as e&!aassing to the

"'ist as the %e$$3-no%n 2'estion, 4What is t'th14 is to the$ogician. It is a$$ the &oe so, if, on ef$ection, he sti*es to

a*oi+ ta'to$og( in his e#$( an+ ecognise the fact that a efeence

to %hat ho$+s t'e &ee$( of the $a%s of so&e one co'nt( at a

#atic'$a ti&e is not a so$'tion of the genea$ #o!$e& th's

#o#ose+. It is 2'ite eas( to state %hat &a( !e ight in #atic'$a

cases 2'i+ sit "'is/, as !eing %hat the $a%s of a cetain #$ace

an+ of a cetain ti&e sa( o &a( ha*e sai+ !'t it is &'ch &oe

+iffic'$t to +ete&ine %hethe %hat the( ha*e enacte+ is ight in

itse$f, an+ to $a( +o%n a 'ni*esa$ citeion !( %hich ight an+ %ong

in genea$, an+ %hat is "'st an+ 'n"'st, &a( !e ecognise+. A$$ this

&a( e&ain entie$( hi++en e*en fo& the #actica$ "'ist 'nti$ he

a!an+on his eiica$ #inci#$es fo a ti&e an+ seach in the #'e

eason fo the so'ces of s'ch "'+ge&ents, in o+e to $a( a ea$

fo'n+ation fo act'a$ #ositi*e $egis$ation. In this seach, his

eiica$ $a%s &a(, in+ee+, f'nish hi& %ith e)ce$$ent g'i+ance !'t a

&ee$( eiica$ s(ste& that is *oi+ of ationa$ #inci#$es is, $i-e

the %oo+en hea+ in the fa!$e of 5hae+'s, fine eno'gh in a##eaance,

!'t 'nfot'nate$( it %ants !ain.

6. The conce#tion of ight3 as efeing to a coes#on+ing

o!$igation %hich is the &oa$ as#ect of it3 in the fist #$ace, has

ega+ on$( to the e)tena$ an+ #actica$ e$ation of one #eson to

anothe, in so fa as the( can ha*e inf$'ence '#on each othe,


2/87

i&&e+iate$( o &e+iate$(, !( thei actions as facts. 7. In the

secon+ #$ace, the conce#tion of ight +oes not in+icate the e$ation

of the action of an in+i*i+'a$ to the %ish o the &ee +esie of

anothe, as in acts of !ene*o$ence o of 'n-in+ness, !'t on$( the

e$ation of his fee action to the fee+o& of action of the othe.

8. An+, in the thi+ #$ace, in this eci#oca$ e$ation of *o$'nta(

actions, the conce#tion of ight +oes not ta-e into consi+eation

the &atte of the &atte of the act of %i$$ in so fa as the en+ %hich

an( one &a( ha*e in *ie% in %i$$ing it is concene+. In othe %o+s,

it is not as-e+ in a 2'estion of ight %hethe an( one on !'(ing goo+s

fo his o%n !'siness ea$i9es a #ofit !( the tansaction o not

!'t on$( the fo& of the tansaction is ta-en into acco'nt, in

consi+eing the e$ation of the &'t'a$ acts of %i$$. Acts of %i$$ o

*o$'nta( choice ae th's ega+e+ on$( in so fa as the( ae fee,

an+ as to %hethe the action of one can ha&oni9e %ith the fee+o&

of anothe, acco+ing to a 'ni*esa$ $a%.

Right, theefoe, coehen+s the %ho$e of the con+itions 'n+e

%hich the *o$'nta( actions of an( one #eson can !e ha&oni9e+ in

ea$it( %ith the *o$'nta( actions of e*e( othe #eson, acco+ing to

a 'ni*esa$ $a% of fee+o&.

C. Uni*esa$ 5inci#$e of Right.

4E*e( action is ight %hich in itse$f, o in the &a)i& on %hich

it #ocee+s, is s'ch that it can coe)ist a$ong %ith the fee+o& of the

%i$$ of each an+ a$$ in action, acco+ing to a 'ni*esa$ $a%.4

If, then, &( action o &( con+ition genea$$( can coe)ist %ith the

fee+o& of e*e( othe, acco+ing to a 'ni*esa$ $a%, an( one +oes

&e a %ong %ho hin+es &e in the #efo&ance of this action, o in the

&aintenance of this con+ition. Fo s'ch a hin+ance o o!st'ction

cannot coe)ist %ith fee+o& acco+ing to 'ni*esa$ $a%s.

It fo$$o%s a$so that it cannot !e +e&an+e+ as a &atte of ight,

that this 'ni*esa$ #inci#$e of a$$ &a)i&s sha$$ itse$f !e a+o#te+ as

&( &a)i&, that is, that I sha$$ &a-e it the &a)i& of &( actions. Fo

an( one &a( !e fee, a$tho'gh his fee+o& is entie$( in+iffeent to

&e, o e*en if I %ishe+ in &( heat to infinge it, so $ong as I +o

not act'a$$( *io$ate that fee+o& !( &( e)tena$ action. Ethics,

ho%e*e, as +isting'ishe+ fo& "'is#'+ence, ioses '#on &e the

o!$igation to &a-e the f'$fi$$&ent of ight a &a)i& of &( con+'ct.

The 'ni*esa$ $a% of ight &a( then !e e)#esse+ th's: 4Act

e)tena$$( in s'ch a &anne that the fee e)ecise of th( %i$$ &a(

!e a!$e to coe)ist %ith the fee+o& of a$$ othes, acco+ing to a

'ni*esa$ $a%.4 This is 'n+o'!te+$( a $a% %hich ioses o!$igation

'#on &e !'t it +oes not at a$$ i$( an+ sti$$ $ess co&&an+ that I

o'ght, &ee$( on acco'nt of this o!$igation, to $i&it &( fee+o& to

these *e( con+itions. Reason in this connection sa(s on$( that it

is esticte+ th's fa !( its i+ea, an+ &a( !e $i-e%ise th's $i&ite+in fact !( othes an+ it $a(s this +o%n as a #ost'$ate %hich is not

ca#a!$e of f'the #oof. As the o!"ect in *ie% is not to teach

*it'e, !'t to e)#$ain %hat ight is, th's fa the $a% of ight, as

th's $ai+ +o%n, &a( not an+ sho'$+ not !e e#esente+ as a

&oti*e3#inci#$e of action.

D. Right is Con"oine+ %ith the Tit$e o A'thoit( to Coe$.


3/87

The esistance %hich is o##ose+ to an( hin+ance of an effect is

in ea$it( a f'theance of this effect an+ is in acco+ance %ith

its acco$ish&ent. No%, e*e(thing that is %ong is a hin+ance of

fee+o&, acco+ing to 'ni*esa$ $a%s an+ co'$sion o constaint

of an( -in+ is a hin+ance o esistance &a+e to fee+o&.

Conse2'ent$(, if a cetain e)ecise of fee+o& is itse$f a hin+ance

of the fee+o& that is acco+ing to 'ni*esa$ $a%s, it is %ong an+

the co'$sion of constaint %hich is o##ose+ to it is ight, as !eing

a hin+eing of a hin+ance of fee+o&, an+ as !eing in acco+ %ith the

fee+o& %hich e)ists in acco+ance %ith 'ni*esa$ $a%s. Hence,

acco+ing to the $ogica$ #inci#$e of conta+iction, a$$ ight is

accoanie+ %ith an i$ie+ tit$e o %aant to !ing co'$sion to

!ea on an( one %ho &a( *io$ate it in fact.

E. Stict Right &a( !e a$so Re#esente+ as the 5ossi!i$it(

of a Uni*esa$ Reci#oca$ Co'$sion in ha&on( %ith

the Fee+o& of A$$ acco+ing to Uni*esa$ La%s.

This #o#osition &eans the ight is not to !e ega+e+ as coose+

of t%o +iffeent e$e&ents3 o!$igation acco+ing to a $a%, an+ atit$e on the #at of one %ho has !o'n+ anothe !( his o%n fee

choice to coe$ hi& to #efo&. 0't it iots that the conce#tion of

ight &a( !e *ie%e+ as consisting i&&e+iate$( in the #ossi!i$it( of

a 'ni*esa$ eci#oca$ co'$sion, in ha&on( %ith the fee+o& of a$$.

As ight in genea$ has fo its o!"ect on$( %hat is e)tena$ in

actions, stict ight, as that %ith %hich nothing ethica$ is

inte&ing$e+, e2'ies no othe &oti*es of action than those that

ae &ee$( e)tena$ fo it is then #'e ight an+ is 'n&i)e+ %ith an(

#esci#tions of *it'e. A stict ight, then, in the e)act sense of

the te&, is that %hich a$one can !e ca$$e+ %ho$$( e)tena$. No%

s'ch ight is fo'n+e+, no +o'!t, '#on the conscio'sness of the

o!$igation of e*e( in+i*i+'a$ acco+ing to the $a% !'t if it is to

!e #'e as s'ch, it neithe &a( no sho'$+ efe to this conscio'sness

as a &oti*e !( %hich to +ete&ine the fee act of the %i$$. Fo this

#'#ose, ho%e*e, it fo'n+s '#on the #inci#$e of the #ossi!i$it( of

an e)tena$ co'$sion, s'ch as &a( coe)ist %ith the fee+o& of

e*e( one acco+ing to 'ni*esa$ $a%s. Acco+ing$(, then, %hee it

is sai+ that a ce+ito has a ight to +e&an+ fo& a +e!to the

#a(&ent of his +e!t, this +oes not &ean &ee$( that he can !ing hi&

to fee$ in his &in+ that eason o!$iges hi& to +o this !'t it &eans

that he can a##$( an e)tena$ co'$sion to foce an( s'ch one so to

#a(, an+ that this co'$sion is 2'ite consistent %ith the fee+o&

of a$$, inc$'+ing the #aties in 2'estion, acco+ing to a 'ni*esa$

$a%. Right an+ the tit$e to coe$, th's in+icate the sa&e thing.

The $a% of ight, as th's en'nciate+, is e#esente+ as a eci#oca$

co'$sion necessai$( in acco+ance %ith the fee+o& of e*e( one,'n+e the #inci#$e of a 'ni*esa$ fee+o&. It is th's, as it %ee,

a e#esentati*e const'ction of the conce#tion of ight, !(

e)hi!iting it in a #'e int'iti*e #ece#tion a #ioi, afte the

ana$og( of the #ossi!i$it( of the fee &otions of !o+ies 'n+e the

#h(sica$ $a% of the e2'a$it( of action an+ eaction. No%, as in #'e

&athe&atics, %e cannot +e+'ce the #o#eties of its o!"ects

i&&e+iate$( fo& a &ee a!stact conce#tion, !'t can on$( +isco*e

the& !( fig'ati*e const'ction o e#esentation of its

conce#tions so it is in $i-e &anne %ith the #inci#$e of ight. It


4/87

is not so &'ch the &ee fo&a$ conce#tion of ight, !'t athe that of

a 'ni*esa$ an+ e2'a$ eci#oca$ co'$sion as ha&oni9ing %ith it,

an+ e+'ce+ 'n+e genea$ $a%s, that &a-es e#esentation of that

conce#tion #ossi!$e. 0't "'st as those conce#tions #esente+ in

+(na&ics ae fo'n+e+ '#on a &ee$( fo&a$ e#esentation of #'e

&athe&atics as #esente+ in geo&et(, eason has ta-en cae a$so to

#o*i+e the 'n+estan+ing as fa as #ossi!$e %ith int'iti*e

#esentations a #ioi in !ehoof of a const'ction of the conce#tion

of ight. The ight in geo&etica$ $ines ect'&/ is o##ose+, as the

staight, to that %hich is c'*e+ an+ to that %hich is o!$i2'e. In the

fist o##osition, thee is in*o$*e+ an inne 2'a$it( of the $ines of

s'ch a nat'e that thee is on$( one staight o ight $ine #ossi!$e

!et%een t%o gi*en #oints. In the secon+ case, again, the #ositions

of t%o intesecting o &eeting $ines ae of s'ch a nat'e that thee

can $i-e%ise !e on$( one $ine ca$$e+ the #e#en+ic'$a, %hich is not

&oe inc$ine+ to the one si+e than the othe, an+ it +i*i+es s#ace

on eithe si+e into t%o e2'a$ #ats. Afte the &anne of this ana$og(,

the science of ight ai&s at +ete&ining %hat e*e( one sha$$ ha*e

as his o%n %ith &athe&atica$ e)actness !'t this is not to !e e)#ecte+

in the ethica$ science of *it'e, as it cannot !'t a$$o% a cetain

$atit'+e fo e)ce#tions. 0't, %itho't #assing into the s#hee ofethics, thee ae t%o cases3 -no%n as the e2'i*oca$ ight of e2'it(

an+ necessit(3 %hich c$ai& a "'i+ica$ +ecision, (et fo %hich no

one can !e fo'n+ to gi*e s'ch a +ecision, an+ %hich, as ega+s

thei e$ation to ights, !e$ong, as it %ee, to the 4Inte&'n+ia4

of E#ic''s. These %e &'st at the o'tset ta-e a#at fo& the s#ecia$

e)#osition of the science of ight, to %hich %e ae no% a!o't to

a+*ance an+ %e &a( consi+e the& no% !( %a( of s'##$e&ent to these

into+'cto( e)#$anations, in o+e that thei 'ncetain con+itions

&a( not e)et a +ist'!ing inf$'ence on the fi)e+ #inci#$es of the

#o#e +octine of ight.

F. S'##$e&enta( Re&a-s on E2'i*oca$ Right.

;'s Ae2'i*oc'&/.

With e*e( ight, in the stict acce#tation "'s stict'&/, thee is

con"oine+ a ight to coe$. 0't it is #ossi!$e to thin- of othe

ights of a %i+e -in+ "'s $at'&/ in %hich the tit$e to coe$ cannot

!e +ete&ine+ !( an( $a%. No% thee ae t%o ea$ o s'##ose+ ights of

this -in+3 e2'it( an+ the ight of necessit(. The fist a$$eges a

ight that is %itho't co'$sion the secon+ a+o#ts a co'$sion

that is %itho't ight. This e2'i*oca$ness, ho%e*e, can !e easi$(

sho%n to est on the #ec'$ia fact that thee ae cases of +o'!tf'$

ight, fo the +ecision of %hich no "'+ge can !e a##ointe+.

I. E2'it(.

E2'it( ae2'itas/, ega+e+ o!"ecti*e$(, +oes not #o#e$(

constit'te a c$ai& '#on the &oa$ +'t( of !ene*o$ence o !eneficence

on the #at of othes !'t %hoe*e insists '#on an(thing on the go'n+

of e2'it(, fo'n+s '#on his ight to the sa&e. In this case, ho%e*e,

the con+itions ae a%anting that ae e2'isite fo the f'nction of a

"'+ge in o+e that !e &ight +ete&ine %hat o %hat -in+ of

satisfaction can !e +one to this c$ai&. When one of the #atnes of

a &ecanti$e coan(, fo&e+ 'n+e the con+ition of e2'a$ #ofits,

has, ho%e*e, +one &oe than the othe &e&!es, an+ in conse2'ence has


5/87

a$so $ost &oe, it is in acco+ance %ith e2'it( that he sho'$+

+e&an+ fo& the coan( &oe than &ee$( an e2'a$ shae of a+*antage

%ith the est. 0't, in e$ation to stict ight3 if %e thin- of a

"'+ge consi+eing his case3 he can f'nish no +efinite +ata to

esta!$ish ho% &'ch &oe !e$ongs to hi& !( the contact an+ in case of

an action at $a%, s'ch a +e&an+ %o'$+ !e e"ecte+. A +o&estic se*ant,

again, %ho &ight !e #ai+ his %ages +'e to the en+ of his (ea of

se*ice in a coinage that !eca&e +e#eciate+ %ithin that #eio+, so

that it %o'$+ not !e of the sa&e *a$'e to hi& as it %as %hen he

entee+ on his engage&ent, cannot c$ai& !( ight to !e -e#t fo&

$oss on acco'nt of the 'ne2'a$ *a$'e of the &one( if he ecei*es the

+'e a&o'nt of it. He can on$( &a-e an a##ea$ on the go'n+ of e2'it(,3

a +'&! go++ess %ho cannot c$ai& a !eaing of ight,3 !eca'se thee %as

nothing !eaing on this #oint in the contact of se*ice, an+ a

"'+ge cannot gi*e a +ecee on the !asis of *ag'e o in+efinite

con+itions.

Hence it fo$$o%s, that a co't of e2'it(, fo the +ecision of

+is#'te+ 2'estions of ight, %o'$+ in*o$*e a conta+iction. It is on$(

%hee his o%n #o#e ights ae concene+, an+ in &attes in %hich

he can +eci+e, that a "'+ge &a( o o'ght to gi*e a heaing to

e2'it(. Th's, if the Co%n is s'##$icate+ to gi*e an in+e&nit( tocetain #esons fo $oss o in"'( s'staine+ in its se*ice, it &a(

'n+eta-e the !'+en of +oing so, a$tho'gh, acco+ing to stict ight,

the c$ai& &ight !e e"ecte+ on the go'n+ of the #ete)t that the

#aties in 2'estion 'n+etoo- the #efo&ance of the se*ice

occasioning the $oss, at thei o%n is-.

The +ict'& of e2'it( &a( !e #'t th's: 4The stictest ight is the

geatest %ong4 s'&&'& "'s s'&&a in"'ia/. 0't this e*i$ cannot !e

o!*iate+ !( the fo&s of ight, a$tho'gh it e$ates to a &atte of

ight fo the gie*ance that it gi*es ise to can on$( !e #'t

!efoe a 4co't of conscience4 fo'& #o$i/, %heeas e*e( 2'estion of

ight &'st !e ta-en !efoe a ci*i$ co't fo'& so$i/.

II. The Right of Necessit(.

The so3ca$$e+ ight of necessit( "'s necessitatis/ is the

s'##ose+ ight o tit$e, in case of the +ange of $osing &( o%n

$ife, to ta-e a%a( the $ife of anothe %ho has, in fact, +one &e no

ha&. It is e*i+ent that, *ie%e+ as a +octine of ight, this &'st

in*o$*e a conta+iction, Fo this is not the case of a %ongf'$

aggesso &a-ing an 'n"'st assa'$t '#on &( $ife, an+ %ho& I antici#ate

!( +e#i*ing hi& of his o%n "'s inc'$#atae t'te$ae/ no conse2'ent$(

is it a 2'estion &ee$( of the eco&&en+ation of &o+eation %hich

!e$ongs to ethics as the +octine of *it'e, an+ not to

"'is#'+ence as the +octine of ight. It is a 2'estion of the

a$$o%a!$eness of 'sing *io$ence against one %ho has 'se+ none

against &e.

It is c$ea that the assetion of s'ch a ight is not to !e'n+estoo+ o!"ecti*e$( as !eing in acco+ance %ith %hat a $a% %o'$+

#esci!e, !'t &ee$( s'!"ecti*e$(, as #ocee+ing on the ass'tion of

ho% a sentence %o'$+ !e #ono'nce+ !( a co't in the case. Thee

can, in fact, !e no ci&ina$ $a% assigning the #ena$t( of +eath to a

&an %ho, %hen shi#%ec-e+ an+ st'gg$ing in e)te&e +ange fo his

$ife, an+ in o+e to sa*e it, &a( th'st anothe fo& a #$an- on

%hich he ha+ sa*e+ hi&se$f. Fo the #'nish&ent theatene+ !( the $a%

co'$+ not #ossi!$( ha*e geate #o%e than the fea of the $oss of

$ife in the case in 2'estion. S'ch a #ena$ $a% %o'$+ th's fai$


6/87

a$togethe to e)ecise its inten+e+ effect fo the theat of an

e*i$ %hich is sti$$ 'ncetain3 s'ch as +eath !( a "'+icia$ sentence3

co'$+ not o*eco&e the fea of an e*i$ %hich is cetain, as +o%ning

is in s'ch cic'&stances. An act of *io$ent se$f3#ese*ation, then,

o'ght not to !e consi+ee+ as a$togethe !e(on+ con+e&nation

inc'$#a!i$e/ it is on$( to !e a+"'+ge+ as e)et fo& #'nish&ent

i'ni!i$e/.


7/87

+'ties %hich contain the $atte as +e+'ce+ fo& the #inci#$e of the

fo&e !( s'!s'tion.

0. Uni*esa$ Di*ision of Rights.

I. Nat'a$ Right an+ 5ositi*e Right. The s(ste& of ights, *ie%e+ as

a scientific s(ste& of +octines, is +i*i+e+ into nat'a$ ight an+

#ositi*e ight. Nat'a$ ight ests '#on #'e ationa$ #inci#$es a

#ioi #ositi*e o stat'to( ight is %hat #ocee+s fo& the %i$$

of a $egis$ato.

II. Innate Right an+ Ac2'ie+ Right. The s(ste& of ights &a(

again !e ega+e+ in efeence to the i$ie+ #o%es of +ea$ing

&oa$$( %ith othes as !o'n+ !( o!$igations, that is, as f'nishing

a $ega$ tit$e of action in e$ation to the&. Th's *ie%e+, the s(ste&

is +i*i+e+ into innate ight an+ ac2'ie+ ight. Innate ight is

that ight %hich !e$ongs to e*e( one !( nat'e, in+e#en+ent of a$$

"'i+ica$ acts of e)#eience. Ac2'ie+ ight is that ight %hich is

fo'n+e+ '#on s'ch "'i+ica$ acts.

Innate ight &a( a$so !e ca$$e+ the 4intena$ &ine an+ thine4

&e'& *e$ t''& inten'&/ fo e)tena$ ight &'st a$%a(s !e ac2'ie+.

Thee is on$( one Innate Right, the 0ithight of Fee+o&.

Fee+o& is in+e#en+ence of the co'$so( %i$$ of anothe an+ in so

fa as it can coe)ist %ith the fee+o& of a$$ acco+ing to a 'ni*esa$

$a%, it is the one so$e oigina$, in!on ight !e$onging to e*e(

&an in *it'e of his h'&anit(. Thee is, in+ee+, an innate e2'a$it(

!e$onging to e*e( &an %hich consists in his ight to !e in+e#en+ent

of !eing !o'n+ !( othes to an(thing &oe than that to %hich he &a(

a$so eci#oca$$( !in+ the&. It is, conse2'ent$(, the in!on 2'a$it(

of e*e( &an in *it'e of %hich he o'ght to !e his o%n &aste !( ight

s'i "'is/. Thee is, a$so, the nat'a$ 2'a$it( of "'stness

atti!'ta!$e to a &an as nat'a$$( of 'nieacha!$e ight "'sti/,

!eca'se !e has +one no %ong to an( one #io to his o%n "'i+ica$

actions. An+, f'the, thee is a$so the innate ight of co&&on action

on the #at of e*e( &an, so that he &a( +o to%a+s othes %hat +oes

not infinge thei ights o ta-e a%a( an(thing that is theis

'n$ess the( ae %i$$ing to a##o#iate it s'ch &ee$( to

co&&'nicate tho'ght, to naate an(thing, o to #o&ise so&ething

%hethe t'$( an+ honest$(, o 'nt'$( an+ +ishonest$( *ei$o2'i& a't

fa$si$o2'i&/, fo it ests entie$( '#on these othes %hethe the(

%i$$ !e$ie*e o t'st in it o not.> 0't a$$ these ights o tit$es

ae a$ea+( inc$'+e+ in the #inci#$e of innate fee+o&, an+ ae not

ea$$( +isting'ishe+ fo& it, e*en as +i*i+ing &e&!es 'n+e a

highe s#ecies of ight.

>It is c'sto&a( to +esignate e*e( 'nt'th that is s#o-enintentiona$$( as s'ch, a$tho'gh it &a( !e in a fi*o$o's &anne a $ie,

o fa$sehoo+ &en+aci'&/, !eca'se it &a( +o ha&, at $east in so fa

as an( one %ho e#eats it in goo+ faith &a( !e &a+e a $a'ghing3stoc-

of to othes on acco'nt of his eas( ce+'$it(. 0't in the "'i+ica$

sense, on$( that 'nt'th is ca$$e+ a $ie %hich i&&e+iate$( infinges

the ight of anothe, s'ch as a fa$se a$$egation of a contact

ha*ing !een conc$'+e+, %hen the a$$egation is #'t fo%a+ in o+e

to +e#i*e so&e one of %hat is his fa$si$o2'i& +o$os'&/. This

+istinction of conce#tions so c$ose$( a$$ie+ is not %itho't


8/87

fo'n+ation !eca'se on the occasion of a si$e state&ent of one=s

tho'ghts, it is a$%a(s fee fo anothe to ta-e the& as he &a( an+

(et the es'$ting e#'te, that s'ch a one is a &an %hose %o+ cannot

!e t'ste+, co&es so c$ose to the o##o!i'& of +iect$( ca$$ing hi& a

$ia, that the !o'n+a(3$ine se#aating %hat, in s'ch a case,

!e$ongs to "'is#'+ence, an+ %hat is s#ecia$ to ethics, can ha+$( !e

othe%ise +a%n.

The eason %h( s'ch a +i*ision into se#aate ights has !een

into+'ce+ into the s(ste& of nat'a$ ight, *ie%e+ as inc$'+ing a$$

that is innate, %as not %itho't a #'#ose. Its o!"ect %as to ena!$e

#oof to !e &oe ea+i$( #'t fo%a+ in case of an( conto*es(

aising a!o't an ac2'ie+ ight, an+ 2'estions e&eging eithe %ith

efeence to a fact that &ight !e in +o'!t, o, if that %ee

esta!$ishe+, in efeence to a ight 'n+e +is#'te. Fo the #at(

e#'+iating an o!$igation, an+ on %ho& the !'+en of #oof on's

#o!an+i/ &ight !e inc'&!ent, co'$+ th's &etho+ica$$( efe to his

innate ight of fee+o& as s#ecifie+ 'n+e *aio's e$ations in

+etai$, an+ co'$+ theefoe fo'n+ '#on the& e2'a$$( as +iffeent

tit$es of ight.

In the e$ation of innate ight, an+ conse2'ent$( of the intena$&ine an+ thine, thee is theefoe not ights, !'t on$( one ight.

An+, acco+ing$(, this highest +i*ision of ights into innate an+

ac2'ie+, %hich e*i+ent$( consists of t%o &e&!es e)te&e$( 'ne2'a$ in

thei contents is #o#e$( #$ace+ in the into+'ction an+ the

s'!+i*isions of the science of ight &a( !e efee+ in +etai$ to

the e)tena$ &ine an+ thine.

C. ?etho+ica$ Di*ision of the Science of Right.

The highest +i*ision of the s(ste& of nat'a$ ight sho'$+ not !e3

as it is fe2'ent$( #'t3 into 4nat'a$ ight4 an+ 4socia$ ight,4

!'t into nat'a$ ight an+ ci*i$ ight. The fist constit'tes

#i*ate ight the secon+, #'!$ic ight. Fo it is not the 4socia$

state4 !'t the 4ci*i$ state4 that is o##ose+ to the 4state of nat'e4

fo in the 4state of nat'e4 thee &a( %e$$ !e societ( of so&e -in+,

!'t thee is no 4ci*i$4 societ(, as an instit'tion sec'ing the &ine

an+ thine !( #'!$ic $a%s. It is th's that ight, *ie%e+ 'n+e

efeence to the state of nat'e, is s#ecia$$( ca$$e+ #i*ate ight.

The %ho$e of the #inci#$es of ight %i$$ theefoe fa$$ to !e

e)#o'n+e+ 'n+e the t%o s'!+i*isions of #i*ate ight an+ #'!$ic

ight.

CH6

FIRST 5ART. 5RIVATE RIGHT.

The S(ste& of those La%s Which Re2'ie No E)tena$ 5o&'$gation.

CHA5TER I. Of the ?o+e of Ha*ing An(thing E)tena$ as One=s O%n.

6. The ?eaning of 4?ine4 in Right ?e'& ;'is/.

An(thing is 4?ine4 !( ight, o is ightf'$$( &ine, %hen I a& so

connecte+ %ith it, that if an( othe #eson sho'$+ &a-e 'se of it

%itho't &( consent, he %o'$+ +o &e a $esion o in"'(. The

s'!"ecti*e con+ition of the 'se of an(thing is #ossession of it.

An e)tena$ thing, ho%e*e as s'ch co'$+ on$( !e &ine, if I &a(

ass'&e it to !e #ossi!$e that I can !e %onge+ !( the 'se %hich

anothe &ight &a-e of it %hen it is not act'a$$( in &( #ossession.


9/87

Hence it %o'$+ !e a conta+iction to ha*e an(thing e)tena$ as one=s

o%n, %ee not the conce#tion of #ossession ca#a!$e of t%o +iffeent

&eanings, as sensi!$e #ossession that is #ecei*a!$e !( the senses,

an+ ationa$ #ossession that is #ecei*a!$e on$( !( the inte$$ect.

0( the fo&e is to !e 'n+estoo+ a #h(sica$ #ossession, an+ !( the

$atte, a #'e$( "'i+ica$ #ossession of the sa&e o!"ect.

The +esci#tion of an o!"ect as 4e)tena$ to &e4 &a( signif(

eithe that it is &ee$( 4+iffeent an+ +istinct fo& &e as a

s'!"ect,4 o that it is a$so 4a thing #$ace+ o'tsi+e of &e, an+ to

!e fo'n+ e$se%hee in s#ace o ti&e.4 Ta-en in the fist sense, the

te& #ossession signifies ationa$ #ossession an+, in the secon+

sense, it &'st &ean eiica$ #ossession. A ationa$ o inte$$igi!$e

#ossession, if s'ch !e #ossi!$e, is #ossession *ie%e+ a#at fo&

#h(sica$ ho$+ing o +etention +etentio/.

7. ;'i+ica$ 5ost'$ate of the 5actica$ Reason.

It is #ossi!$e to ha*e an( e)tena$ o!"ect of &( %i$$ as &ine. In

othe %o+s, a &a)i& to this effect3 %ee it to !eco&e $a%3 that an(

o!"ect on %hich the %i$$ can !e e)ete+ &'st e&ain o!"ecti*e$( in

itse$f %itho't an o%ne, as es n'$$i's, is conta( to the#inci#$e of ight.

Fo an o!"ect of an( act of &( %i$$, is so&ething that it %o'$+ !e

#h(sica$$( %ithin &( #o%e to 'se. No%, s'##ose thee %ee things that

!( ight sho'$+ a!so$'te$( not !e in o' #o%e, o, in othe %o+s,

that it %o'$+ !e %ong o inconsistent %ith the fee+o& of a$$,

acco+ing to 'ni*esa$ $a%, to &a-e 'se of the&. On this

s'##osition, fee+o& %o'$+ so fa !e +e#i*ing itse$f of the 'se of

its *o$'nta( acti*it(, in th's #'tting 'sea!$e o!"ects o't of a$$

#ossi!i$it( of 'se. In #actica$ e$ations, this %o'$+ !e to

annihi$ate the&, !( &a-ing the& es n'$$i's, not%ithstan+ing the

fact act acts of %i$$ in e$ation to s'ch things %o'$+ fo&a$$(

ha&oni9e, in the act'a$ 'se of the&, %ith the e)tena$ fee+o& of a$$

acco+ing to 'ni*esa$ $a%s. No% the #'e #actica$ eason $a(s +o%n

on$( fo&a$ $a%s as #inci#$es to eg'$ate the e)ecise of the %i$$

an+ theefoe a!stacts fo& the &atte of the act of %i$$, as ega+s

the othe 2'a$ities of the o!"ect, %hich is consi+ee+ on$( in so

fa as it is an o!"ect of the acti*it( of the %i$$. Hence the

#actica$ eason cannot contain, in efeence to s'ch an o!"ect, an

a!so$'te #ohi!ition of its 'se, !eca'se this %o'$+ in*o$*e a

conta+iction of e)tena$ fee+o& %ith itse$f. An o!"ect of &( fee

%i$$, ho%e*e, is one %hich I ha*e the #h(sica$ ca#a!i$it( of &a-ing

so&e 'se of at %i$$, since its 'se stan+s in &( #o%e in #otentia/.

This is to !e +isting'ishe+ fo& ha*ing the o!"ect !o'ght 'n+e &(

+is#osa$ in #ostestate& &ea& e+'ct'&/, %hich s'##oses not a

ca#a!i$it( &ee$(, !'t a$so a #atic'$a act of the fee3%i$$. 0't

in o+e to consi+e so&ething &ee$( as an o!"ect of &( %i$$ as s'ch,

it is s'fficient to !e conscio's that I ha*e it in &( #o%e. It istheefoe an ass'tion a #ioi of the #actica$ eason to ega+ an+

teat e*e( o!"ect %ithin the ange of &( fee e)ecise of %i$$ as

o!"ecti*e$( a #ossi!$e &ine o thine.

This #ost'$ate &a( !e ca$$e+ 4a #e&issi*e $a%4 of the #actica$

eason, as gi*ing 's a s#ecia$ tit$e %hich %e co'$+ not e*o$*e o't

of the &ee conce#tions of ight genea$$(. An+ this tit$e constit'tes

the ight to iose '#on a$$ othes an o!$igation, not othe%ise

$ai+ '#on the&, to a!stain fo& the 'se of cetain o!"ects of o' fee

choice, !eca'se %e ha*e a$ea+( ta-en the& into o' #ossession. Reason


10/87

%i$$s that this sha$$ !e ecognise+ as a *a$i+ #inci#$e, an+ it

+oes so as #actica$ eason an+ it is ena!$e+ !( &eans of this

#ost'$ate a #ioi to en$age its ange of acti*it( in #actice.

8. 5ossession an+ O%neshi#.

An( one %ho %o'$+ asset the ight to a thing as his &'st !e in

#ossession of it as an o!"ect. Wee he not its act'a$ #ossesso o

o%ne, he co'$+ not !e %onge+ o in"'e+ !( the 'se %hich anothe

&ight &a-e of it %itho't his consent. Fo, sho'$+ an(thing e)tena$ to

hi&, an+ in no %a( connecte+ %ith hi& !( ight, affect this o!"ect, it

co'$+ not affect hi&se$f as a s'!"ect, no +o hi& an( %ong, 'n$ess he

stoo+ in a e$ation of o%neshi# to it.

@. E)#osition of the Conce#tion of the.

E)tena$ ?ine an+ Thine.

Thee can on$( !e thee e)tena$ o!"ects of &( %i$$ in the

acti*it( of choice:

6/ A co#oea$ thing e)tena$ to &e

7/ The fee3%i$$ of anothe in the #efo&ance of a #atic'$aact #aestatio/

8/ The state of anothe in e$ation to &(se$f.

These coes#on+ to the categoies of s'!stance, ca'sa$it(, an+

eci#ocit( an+ the( fo& the #actica$ e$ations !et%een &e an+

e)tena$ o!"ects, acco+ing to the $a%s of fee+o&.

A. I can on$( ca$$ a co#oea$ thing o an o!"ect in s#ace 4&ine,4

%hen, e*en a$tho'gh not in #h(sica$ #ossession of it, I a& a!$e to

asset that I a& in #ossession of it in anothe ea$ non#h(sica$

sense. Th's, I a& not entit$e+ to ca$$ an a##$e &ine &ee$( !eca'se

I ho$+ it in &( han+ o #ossess it #h(sica$$( !'t on$( %hen I a&

entit$e+ to sa(, 4I #ossess it, a$tho'gh I ha*e $ai+ it o't of &(

han+, an+ %hee*e it &a( $ie.4 In $i-e &anne, I a& not entit$e+ to

sa( of the go'n+, on %hich I &a( ha*e $ai+ &(se$f +o%n, that

theefoe it is &ine !'t on$( %hen I can ight$( asset that it sti$$

e&ains in &( #ossession, a$tho'gh I &a( ha*e $eft the s#ot. Fo an(

one %ho, in the fo&e a##eaances of eiica$ #ossession, &ight

%ench the a##$e o't of &( han+, o +ag &e a%a( fo& &(

esting3#$ace, %o'$+, in+ee+, in"'e &e in es#ect of the inne 4&ine4

of fee+o&, !'t not in es#ect of the e)tena$ 4&ine,4 'n$ess I

co'$+ asset that I %as in the #ossession of the o!"ect, e*en %hen not

act'a$$( ho$+ing it #h(sica$$(. An+ if I co'$+ not +o this, neithe

co'$+ I ca$$ the a##$e o the s#ot &ine.

0. I cannot ca$$ the #efo&ance of so&ething !( the action of the

%i$$ of anothe 4&ine,4 if I can on$( sa( 4it has co&e into &(

#ossession at the sa&e ti&e %ith a #o&ise4 #act'& e init'&/ !'t

on$( if I a& a!$e to asset 4I a& in #ossession of the %i$$ of theothe, so as to +ete&ine hi& to the #efo&ance of a #atic'$a

act, a$tho'gh the ti&e fo the #efo&ance of it has not (et co&e.4 In

the $atte case, the #o&ise !e$ongs to the nat'e of things

act'a$$( he$+ as #ossesse+, an+ as an acti*e o!$igation I can ec-on

it &ine an+ this ho$+s goo+ not on$( if I ha*e the thing #o&ise+3 as

in the fist case3 a$ea+( in &( #ossession, !'t e*en a$tho'gh I +o

not (et #ossess it in fact. Hence, I &'st !e a!$e to ega+ &(se$f

in tho'ght as in+e#en+ent of that eiica$ fo& of #ossession that is

$i&ite+ !( the con+ition of ti&e an+ as !eing, ne*ethe$ess, in


11/87

#ossession of the o!"ect.

C. I cannot ca$$ a %ife, a chi$+, a +o&estic, o, genea$$(, an(

othe #eson 4&ine4 &ee$( !eca'se I co&&an+ the& at #esent as

!e$onging to &( ho'seho$+, o !eca'se I ha*e the& 'n+e conto$, an+

in &( #o%e an+ #ossession. 0't I can ca$$ the& &ine, if, a$tho'gh

the( &a( ha*e %ith+a%n the&se$*es fo& &( conto$ an+ I +o not

theefoe #ossess the& eiica$$(, I can sti$$ sa( 4I #ossess the& !(

&( &ee %i$$, #o*i+e+ the( e)ist an(%hee in s#ace o ti&e an+,

conse2'ent$(, &( #ossession of the& is #'e$( "'i+ica$.4 The( !e$ong,

in fact, to &( #ossessions, on$( %hen an+ so fa as I can asset

this as a &atte of ight.

. Definition of the Conce#tion of the

E)tena$ ?ine an+ Thine.

Definitions ae no&ina$ o ea$. A no&ina$ +efinition is

s'fficient &ee$( to +isting'ish the o!"ect +efine+ fo& a$$ othe

o!"ects, an+ it s#ings o't of a co$ete an+ +efinite e)#osition of

its conce#tion. A ea$ +efinition f'the s'ffices fo a +e+'ction

of the conce#tion +efine+, so as to f'nish a -no%$e+ge of the ea$it(

of the o!"ect. The no&ina$ +efinition of the e)tena$ 4&ine4 %o'$+th's !e: 4The e)tena$ &ine is an(thing o'tsi+e of &(se$f, s'ch that

an( hin+ance of &( 'se of it at %i$$ %o'$+ !e +oing &e an in"'( o

%ong as an infinge&ent of that fee+o& of &ine %hich &a( coe)ist

%ith the fee+o& of a$$ othes acco+ing to a 'ni*esa$ $a%.4 The ea$

+efinition of this conce#tion &a( !e #'t th's: 4The e)tena$ &ine is

an(thing o'tsi+e of &(se$f, s'ch that an( #e*ention of &( 'se of it

%o'$+ !e a %ong, a$tho'gh I &a( not !e in #ossession of it so as to

!e act'a$$( ho$+ing it as an o!"ect.4 I &'st !e in so&e -in+ of

#ossession of an e)tena$ o!"ect, if the o!"ect is to !e ega+e+ as

&ine fo, othe%ise, an(one intefeing %ith this o!"ect %o'$+ not,

in +oing so, affect &e no, conse2'ent$(, %o'$+ he thee!( +o &e

an( %ong. Hence, acco+ing to SS @, a ationa$ #ossession

#ossessio no'&enon/ &'st !e ass'&e+ as #ossi!$e, if thee is to !e

ight$( an e)tena$ &ine an+ thine. Eiica$ #ossession is th's

on$( #heno&ena$ #ossession o ho$+ing +etention/ of the o!"ect in the

s#hee of sensi!$e a##eaance #ossessio #heno&enon/, a$tho'gh the

o!"ect %hich I #ossess is not ega+e+ in this #actica$ e$ation as

itse$f a #heno&enon3 acco+ing to the e)#osition of the Tanscen+enta$

Ana$(tic in the Citi2'e of 5'e Reason3 !'t as a thing in itse$f. Fo

in the Citi2'e of 5'e Reason the inteest of eason t'ns '#on the

theoetica$ -no%$e+ge of the nat'e of things an+ ho% fa eason can

go in s'ch -no%$e+ge. 0't hee eason has to +ea$ %ith the #actica$

+ete&ination of the action of the %i$$ acco+ing to $a%s of

fee+o&, %hethe the o!"ect is #ecei*a!$e tho'gh the senses o

&ee$( thin-a!$e !( the #'e 'n+estan+ing. An+ ight, as 'n+e

consi+eation, is a #'e #actica$ conce#tion of the eason in

e$ation to the e)ecise of the %i$$ 'n+e $a%s of fee+o&. An+, hence, it is not 2'ite coect to s#ea- of 4#ossessing4 a ight

to this o that o!"ect, !'t it sho'$+ athe !e sai+ that an o!"ect is

#ossesse+ in a #'e$( "'i+ica$ %a( fo a ight is itse$f the

ationa$ #ossession of an o!"ect, an+ to 4#ossess a #ossession,4 %o'$+

!e an e)#ession %itho't &eaning.

B. De+'ction of the Conce#tion of a 5'e$( ;'i+ica$

5ossession of an E)tena$ O!"ect 5ossessio No'&enon/.


12/87

The 2'estion, 4Ho% is an e)tena$ &ine an+ thine #ossi!$e14 eso$*es

itse$f into this othe 2'estion: 4Ho% is a &ee$( "'i+ica$ o

ationa$ #ossession #ossi!$e14 An+ this secon+ 2'estion eso$*es

itse$f again into a thi+: 4Ho% is a s(nthetic #o#osition in ight

#ossi!$e a #ioi14

A$$ #o#ositions of ight3 as "'i+ica$ #o#ositions3 ae

#o#ositions a #ioi, fo the( ae #actica$ $a%s of eason

+icta&ina ationis/. 0't the "'i+ica$ #o#osition a #ioi

es#ecting eiica$ #ossession is ana$(tica$ fo it sa(s nothing

&oe than %hat fo$$o%s !( the #inci#$e of conta+iction, fo& the

conce#tion of s'ch #ossession na&e$(, that if I a& the ho$+e of a

thing in the %a( of !eing #h(sica$$( connecte+ %ith it, an( one

intefeing %ith it %itho't &( consent3 as, fo instance, in %enching

an a##$e o't of &( han+3 affects an+ +etacts fo& &( fee+o& as

that %hich is intena$$( &ine an+ conse2'ent$( the &a)i& of his

action is in +iect conta+iction to the a)io& of ight. The

#o#osition e)#essing the #inci#$e of an eiica$ ightf'$

#ossession +oes not theefoe go !e(on+ the ight of a #eson in

efeence to hi&se$f.

On the othe han+, the #o#osition e)#essing the #ossi!i$it( of the

#ossession of a thing e)tena$ to &e, afte a!staction of a$$ thecon+itions of eiica$ #ossession in s#ace an+ ti&e3 conse2'ent$(

#esenting the ass'tion of the #ossi!i$it( of a #ossessio

no'&enon3 goes !e(on+ these $i&iting con+itions an+ !eca'se this

#o#osition assets a #ossession e*en %itho't #h(sica$ ho$+ing, as

necessa( to the conce#tion of the e)tena$ &ine an+ thine, it is

s(nthetica$. An+ th's it !eco&es a #o!$e& fo eason to sho% ho% s'ch

a #o#osition, e)ten+ing its ange !e(on+ the conce#tion of

eiica$ #ossession, is #ossi!$e a #ioi.

In this &anne, fo instance, the act of ta-ing #ossession of a

#atic'$a #otion of the soi$ is a &o+e e)ecising the #i*ate

fee3%i$$ %itho't !eing an act of 's'#ation. The #ossesso fo'n+s

'#on the innate ight of co&&on #ossession of the s'face of the

eath, an+ '#on the 'ni*esa$ %i$$ coes#on+ing a #ioi to it, %hich

a$$o%s a #i*ate #ossession of the soi$ !eca'se %hat ae &ee

things %o'$+ !e othe%ise &a+e in the&se$*es an+ !( a $a% into

'na##o#ia!$e o!"ects. Th's a fist a##o#iato ac2'ies

oigina$$( !( #i&a( #ossession a #atic'$a #otion of the go'n+

an+ !( ight "'e/ he esists e*e( othe #eson %ho %o'$+ hin+e hi&

in the #i*ate 'se of it, a$tho'gh, %hi$e the 4state of nat'e4

contin'es, this cannot !e +one !( "'i+ica$ &eans +e "'e/, !eca'se a

#'!$ic $a% +oes not (et e)ist.

An+ a$tho'gh a #iece of go'n+ sho'$+ !e ega+e+ as fee, o

+ec$ae+ to !e s'ch, so as to !e fo the #'!$ic 'se of a$$ %itho't

+istinction, (et it cannot !e sai+ that it is th's fee !( nat'e

an+ oigina$$( so, #io to an( "'i+ica$ act. Fo thee %o'$+ !e a

ea$ e$ation a$ea+( inco#oate+ in s'ch a #iece of go'n+ !( the

*e( fact that the #ossession of it %as +enie+ to an( #atic'$ain+i*i+'a$ an+ as this #'!$ic fee+o& of the go'n+ %o'$+ !e a

#ohi!ition of it to e*e( #atic'$a in+i*i+'a$, this #es'##oses a

co&&on #ossession of it %hich cannot ta-e effect %itho't a contact. A

#iece of go'n+, ho%e*e, %hich can on$( !eco&e #'!$ic$( fee !(

contact, &'st act'a$$( !e in the #ossession of a$$ those associate+

togethe, %ho &'t'a$$( inte+ict o s's#en+ each othe, fo& an(

#atic'$a o #i*ate 'se of it.

This oigina$ co&&'nit( of the soi$ an+ of the things '#on it


13/87

co&&'nio f'n+i oiginaia/, is an i+ea %hich has o!"ecti*e an+

#actica$ "'i+ica$ ea$it( an+ is entie$( +iffeent fo& the i+ea of

a #i&iti*e co&&'nit( of things, %hich is a fiction. Fo the $atte

%o'$+ ha*e ha+ to !e fo'n+e+ as a fo& of societ(, an+ &'st ha*e ta-en

its ise fo& a contact !( %hich a$$ eno'nce+ the ight of #i*ate

#ossession, so that !( 'niting the #o#et( o%ne+ !( each into a

%ho$e, it %as th's tansfo&e+ into a co&&on #ossession. 0't ha+

s'ch an e*ent ta-en #$ace, histo( &'st ha*e #esente+ so&e e*i+ence

of it. To ega+ s'ch a #oce+'e as the oigina$ &o+e of ta-ing

#ossession, an+ to ho$+ that the #atic'$a #ossessions of e*e(

in+i*i+'a$ &a( an+ o'ght to !e go'n+e+ '#on it, is e*i+ent$( a

conta+iction.

5ossession #ossessio/ is to !e +isting'ishe+ fo& ha!itation as

&ee esi+ence se+es/ an+ the act of ta-ing #ossession of the soi$

in the intention of ac2'iing it once fo a$$, is a$so to !e

+isting'ishe+ fo& sett$e&ent o +o&ici$e inco$at's/, %hich is a

contin'o's #i*ate #ossession of a #$ace that is +e#en+ent on the

#esence of the in+i*i+'a$ '#on it. We ha*e not hee to +ea$ %ith

the 2'estion of +o&ici$ia( sett$e&ent, as that is a secon+a(

"'i+ica$ act %hich &a( fo$$o% '#on #ossession, o &a( not occ' at

a$$ fo as s'ch it co'$+ not in*o$*e an oigina$ #ossession, !'t on$(a secon+a( #ossession +ei*e+ fo& the consent of othes.

Si$e #h(sica$ #ossession, o ho$+ing of the soi$, in*o$*es a$ea+(

cetain e$ations of ight to the thing, a$tho'gh it is cetain$(

not s'fficient to ena!$e &e to ega+ it as &ine. Re$ati*e to

othes, so fa as the( -no%, it a##eas as a fist #ossession in

ha&on( %ith the $a% of e)tena$ fee+o& an+, at the sa&e ti&e, it is

e&!ace+ in the 'ni*esa$ oigina$ #ossession %hich contains a

#ioi the f'n+a&enta$ #inci#$e of the #ossi!i$it( of a #i*ate

#ossession. Hence to +ist'! the fist occ'#ie o ho$+e of a #otion

of the soi$ in his 'se of it is a $esion o %ong +one to hi&. The

fist ta-ing of #ossession has theefoe a tit$e of ight tit'$'s

#ossessionis/ in its fa*o', %hich is si$( the #inci#$e of the

oigina$ co&&on #ossession an+ the sa(ing that 4It is %e$$ fo

those %ho ae in #ossession4 !eati #ossi+entes/, %hen one is not

!o'n+ to a'thenticate his #ossession, is a #inci#$e of nat'a$

ight that esta!$ishes the "'i+ica$ act of ta-ing #ossession, as a

go'n+ of ac2'isition '#on %hich e*e( fist #ossesso &a( fo'n+.

It has !een sho%n in the Citi2'e of 5'e Reason that in theoetica$

#inci#$es a #ioi, an int'itiona$ #ece#tion a #ioi &'st !e

s'##$ie+ in connection %ith an( gi*en conce#tion an+, conse2'ent$(,

%ee it a 2'estion of a #'e$( theoetica$ #inci#$e, so&ething

%o'$+ ha*e to !e a++e+ to the conce#tion of the #ossession of an

o!"ect to &a-e it ea$. 0't in es#ect of the #actica$ #inci#$e

'n+e consi+eation, the #oce+'e is "'st the con*ese of the

theoetica$ #ocess so that a$$ the con+itions of #ece#tion %hich

fo& the fo'n+ation of eiica$ #ossession &'st !e a!stacte+ o

ta-en a%a( in o+e to e)ten+ the ange of the "'i+ica$ conce#tion!e(on+ the eiica$ s#hee, an+ in o+e to !e a!$e to a##$( the

#ost'$ate, that e*e( e)tena$ o!"ect of the fee acti*it( of &( %i$$,

so fa as I ha*e it in &( #o%e, a$tho'gh not in the #ossession of it,

&a( !e ec-one+ as "'i+ica$$( &ine.

The #ossi!i$it( of s'ch a #ossession, %ith conse2'ent +e+'ction of

the conce#tion of a noneiica$ #ossession, is fo'n+e+ '#on the

"'i+ica$ #ost'$ate of the #actica$ eason, that 4It is a "'i+ica$

+'t( so to act to%a+s othes that %hat is e)tena$ an+ 'sea!$e &a(

co&e into the #ossession o !eco&e the #o#et( of so&e one.4 An+ this


14/87

#ost'$ate is con"oine+ %ith the e)#osition of the conce#tion that %hat

is e)tena$$( one=s o%n is fo'n+e+ '#on a #ossession, that is not

#h(sica$. The #ossi!i$it( of s'ch a #ossession, th's concei*e+,

cannot, ho%e*e, !e #o*e+ o coehen+e+ in itse$f, !eca'se it is

a ationa$ conce#tion fo %hich no eiica$ #ece#tion can !e

f'nishe+ !'t it fo$$o%s as an i&&e+iate conse2'ence fo& the

#ost'$ate that has !een en'nciate+. Fo, if it is necessa( to act

acco+ing to that "'i+ica$ #inci#$e, the ationa$ o inte$$igi!$e

con+ition of a #'e$( "'i+ica$ #ossession &'st a$so !e #ossi!$e. It

nee+ astonish no one, then, that the theoetica$ as#ect of the

#inci#$es of the e)tena$ &ine an+ thine is $ost fo& *ie% in the

ationa$ s#hee of #'e inte$$igence an+ #esents no e)tension of

-no%$e+ge fo the conce#tion of fee+o& '#on %hich the( est +oes not

a+&it of an( theoetica$ +e+'ction of its #ossi!i$it(, an+ it can on$(

!e infee+ fo& the #actica$ $a% of eason, ca$$e+ the categoica$

ieati*e, *ie%e+ as a fact.

. A##$ication of the 5inci#$e of the 5ossi!i$it( of

an E)tena$ ?ine an+ Thine to O!"ects of E)#eience.

The conce#tion of a #'e$( "'i+ica$ #ossession is not aneiica$ conce#tion +e#en+ent on con+itions of s#ace an+ ti&e, an+

(et it has #actica$ ea$it(. As s'ch it &'st !e a##$ica!$e to o!"ects

of e)#eience, the -no%$e+ge of %hich is in+e#en+ent of the con+itions

of s#ace an+ ti&e. The ationa$ #ocess !( %hich the conce#tion of

ight is !o'ght into e$ation to s'ch o!"ects so as to constit'te a

#ossi!$e e)tena$ &ine an+ thine, is as fo$$o%s. The conce#tion of

ight, !eing containe+ &ee$( in eason, cannot !e i&&e+iate$( a##$ie+

to o!"ects of e)#eience, so as to gi*e the conce#tion of an eiica$

#ossession, !'t &'st !e a##$ie+ +iect$( to the &e+iating

conce#tion, in the 'n+estan+ing, of #ossession in genea$ so that,

instea+ of #h(sica$ ho$+ing +etentio/ as an eiica$

e#esentation of #ossession, the fo&a$ conce#tion o tho'ght of

ha*ing, a!stacte+ fo& a$$ con+itions of s#ace an+ ti&e, is concei*e+

!( the &in+, an+ on$( as i$(ing that an o!"ect is in &( #o%e an+ at

&( +is#osa$ in #otestate &ea #osit'& esse/. In this e$ation, the

te& e)tena$ +oes not signif( e)istence in anothe #$ace than %hee I

a&, no &( eso$'tion an+ acce#tance at anothe ti&e than the &o&ent

in %hich I ha*e the offe of a thing: it signifies on$( an o!"ect

+iffeent fo& o othe than &(se$f. No% the #actica$ eason !( its

$a% of ight %i$$s, that I sha$$ thin- the &ine an+ thine in

a##$ication to o!"ects, not acco+ing to sensi!$e con+itions, !'t

a#at fo& these an+ fo& the #ossession the( in+icate !eca'se the(

efe to +ete&inations of the acti*it( of the %i$$ that ae in

acco+ance %ith the $a%s of fee+o&. Fo it is on$( a conce#tion of

the 'n+estan+ing that can !e !o'ght 'n+e the ationa$ conce#tion of

ight. I &a( theefoe sa( that I #ossess a fie$+, a$tho'gh it is in

2'ite a +iffeent #$ace fo& that on %hich I act'a$$( fin+ &(se$f. Fothe 2'estion hee is not concening an inte$$ect'a$ e$ation to the

o!"ect, !'t I ha*e the thing #actica$$( in &( #o%e an+ at &(

+is#osa$, %hich is a conce#tion of #ossession ea$i9e+ !( the

'n+estan+ing an+ in+e#en+ent of e$ations of s#ace an+ it is &ine,

!eca'se &( %i$$, in +ete&ining itse$f to an( #atic'$a 'se of it, is

not in conf$ict %ith the $a% of e)tena$ fee+o&. No% it is "'st in

a!staction fo& #h(sica$ #ossession of the o!"ect of &( fee3%i$$

in the s#hee of sense, that the #actica$ eason %i$$s that a

ationa$ #ossession of it sha$$ !e tho'ght, acco+ing to


15/87

inte$$ect'a$ conce#tions %hich ae not eiica$, !'t contain a #ioi

the con+itions of ationa$ #ossession. Hence it is in this fact,

that %e fo'n+ the go'n+ of the *a$i+it( of s'ch a ationa$ conce#tion

of #ossession #ossessio no'&enon/ as a #inci#$e of a 'ni*esa$$(

*a$i+ $egis$ation. Fo s'ch a $egis$ation is i$ie+ an+ containe+

in the e)#ession, 4This e)tena$ o!"ect is &ine,4 !eca'se an

o!$igation is thee!( iose+ '#on a$$ othes in es#ect of it, %ho

%o'$+ othe%ise not ha*e !een o!$ige+ to a!stain fo& the 'se of

this o!"ect.

The &o+e, then, of ha*ing so&ething e)tena$ to &(se$f as &ine,

consists in a s#ecia$$( "'i+ica$ connection of the %i$$ of the

s'!"ect %ith that o!"ect, in+e#en+ent$( of the eiica$ e$ations

to it in s#ace an+ in ti&e, an+ in acco+ance %ith the conce#tion of a

ationa$ #ossession. A #atic'$a s#ot on the eath is not

e)tena$$( &ine !eca'se I occ'#( it %ith &( !o+( fo the 2'estion

hee +isc'sse+ efes on$( to &( e)tena$ fee+o&, an+ conse2'ent$( it

affects on$( the #ossession of &(se$f, %hich is not a thing e)tena$

to &e, an+ theefoe on$( in*o$*es an intena$ ight. 0't if I

contin'e to !e in #ossession of the s#ot, a$tho'gh I ha*e ta-en &(se$f

a%a( fo& it an+ gone to anothe #$ace, on$( 'n+e that con+ition is

&( e)tena$ ight concene+ in connection %ith it. An+ to &a-e thecontin'o's #ossession of this s#ot !( &( #eson a con+ition of

ha*ing it as &ine, &'st eithe !e to asset that it is not #ossi!$e at

a$$ to ha*e an(thing e)tena$ as one=s o%n, %hich is conta( to the

#ost'$ate in SS 7, o to e2'ie, in o+e that this e)tena$

#ossession &a( !e #ossi!$e, that I sha$$ !e in t%o #$aces at the

sa&e ti&e. 0't this a&o'nts to sa(ing that I &'st !e in a #$ace an+

a$so not in it, %hich is conta+icto( an+ a!s'+.

This #osition &a( !e a##$ie+ to the case in %hich I ha*e acce#te+

a #o&ise fo &( ha*ing an+ #ossession in es#ect of %hat has !een

#o&ise+ !eco&e esta!$ishe+ on the go'n+ of e)tena$ ight. This

ight is not to !e ann'$$e+ !( the fact that the #o&ise ha*ing

sai+ at one ti&e, 4This thing sha$$ !e (o's,4 again at a s'!se2'ent

ti&e sa(s, 4?( %i$$ no% is that the thing sha$$ not !e (o's.4 In s'ch

e$ations of ationa$ ight, the con+itions ho$+ "'st the sa&e as if

the #o&ise ha+, %itho't an( inte*a$ of ti&e !et%een the&, &a+e

the t%o +ec$aations of his %i$$, 4This sha$$ !e (o's,4 an+ a$so

4This sha$$ not !e (o's4 %hich &anifest$( conta+icts itse$f.

The sa&e thing ho$+s, in $i-e &anne, of the conce#tion of the

"'i+ica$ #ossession of a #eson as !e$onging to the Ha*ing of a

s'!"ect, %hethe it !e a %ife, a chi$+, o a se*ant. The e$ations of

ight in*o$*e+ in a ho'seho$+, an+ the eci#oca$ #ossession of a$$

its &e&!es, ae not ann'$$e+ !( the ca#a!i$it( of se#aating fo&

each othe in s#ace !eca'se it is !( "'i+ica$ e$ations that the(

ae connecte+, an+ the e)tena$ &ine an+ thine, as in the fo&e

cases, ests entie$( '#on the ass'tion of the #ossi!i$it( of a

#'e$( ationa$ #ossession, %itho't the accoani&ent of #h(sica$

+etention o ho$+ing of the o!"ect. Reason is foce+ to a citi2'e of its "'i+ica$$( #actica$ f'nction

in s#ecia$ efeence to the conce#tion of the e)tena$ &ine an+ thine,

!( the antino&( of the #o#ositions en'nciate+ ega+ing the

#ossi!i$it( of s'ch a fo& of #ossession. Fo these gi*e ise to an

ine*ita!$e +ia$ectic, in %hich a thesis an+ an antithesis set '# e2'a$

c$ai&s to the *a$i+it( of t%o conf$icting con+itions. Reason is th's

coe$$e+, in its #actica$ f'nction in e$ation to ight3 as it %as

in its theoetica$ f'nction3 to &a-e a +istinction !et%een

#ossession as a #heno&ena$ a##eaance #esente+ to the senses, an+


16/87

that #ossession %hich is ationa$ an+ thin-a!$e on$( !( the

'n+estan+ing.

Thesis.3 The thesis, in this case, is: 4It is #ossi!$e to ha*e

so&ething e)tena$ as &ine, a$tho'gh I a& not in #ossession of it.4

Antithesis.3 The antithesis is: 4It is not #ossi!$e to ha*e an(thing

e)tena$ as &ine, if I a& not in #ossession of it.4

So$'tion.3 The so$'tion is: 40oth 5o#ositions ae t'e4 the fo&e

%hen I &ean eiica$ #ossession #ossessio #haeno&enon/, the $atte

%hen I 'n+estan+ !( the sa&e te&, a #'e$( ationa$ #ossession

#ossessio no'&enon/.

0't the #ossi!i$it( of a ationa$ #ossession, an+ conse2'ent$( of an

e)tena$ &ine an+ thine, cannot !e coehen+e+ !( +iect insight, !'t

&'st !e +e+'ce+ fo& the #actica$ eason. An+ in this e$ation it

is s#ecia$$( note%oth( that the #actica$ eason %itho't

int'itiona$ #ece#tions, an+ e*en %itho't e2'iing s'ch an e$e&ent

a #ioi, can e)ten+ its ange !( the &ee e$i&ination of eiica$

con+itions, as "'stifie+ !( the $a% of fee+o&, an+ can th's esta!$ish

s(nthetica$ #o#ositions a #ioi. The #oof of this in the

#actica$ connection, as %i$$ !e sho%n afte%a+s, can !e a++'ce+ in

an ana$(tica$ &anne.

. To Ha*e An(thing E)tena$ as One=s O%n is on$( 5ossi!$e

in a ;'i+ica$ o Ci*i$ State of Societ( 'n+e the

Reg'$ation of a 5'!$ic Legis$ati*e 5o%e.

If, !( %o+ o +ee+, I +ec$ae &( %i$$ that so&e e)tena$ thing

sha$$ !e &ine, I &a-e a +ec$aation that e*e( othe #eson is o!$ige+

to a!stain fo& the 'se of this o!"ect of &( e)ecise of %i$$ an+

this ioses an o!$igation %hich no one %o'$+ !e 'n+e, %itho't s'ch a

"'i+ica$ act on &( #at. 0't the ass'tion of this act at the sa&e

ti&e in*o$*es the a+&ission that I a& o!$ige+ eci#oca$$( to

o!se*e a si&i$a a!stention to%a+s e*e( othe in es#ect of %hat is

e)tena$$( theis fo the o!$igation in 2'estion aises fo& a

'ni*esa$ '$e eg'$ating the e)tena$ "'i+ica$ e$ations. Hence I a&

not o!$ige+ to $et a$one %hat anothe #eson +ec$aes to !e e)tena$$(

his, 'n$ess e*e( othe #eson $i-e%ise sec'es &e !( a g'aantee that

he %i$$ act in e$ation to %hat is &ine, '#on the sa&e #inci#$e. This

g'aantee of eci#oca$ an+ &'t'a$ a!stention fo& %hat !e$ongs to

othes +oes not e2'ie a s#ecia$ "'i+ica$ act fo its esta!$ish&ent,

!'t is a$ea+( in*o$*e+ in the conce#tion of an e)tena$ o!$igation of

ight, on acco'nt of the 'ni*esa$it( an+ conse2'ent$( the eci#ocit(

of the o!$igatoiness aising fo& a 'ni*esa$ R'$e. No% a sing$e

%i$$, in e$ation to an e)tena$ an+ conse2'ent$( contingent

#ossession, cannot se*e as a co'$so( $a% fo a$$, !eca'se that

%o'$+ !e to +o *io$ence to the fee+o& %hich is in acco+ance %ith

'ni*esa$ $a%s. Theefoe it is on$( a %i$$ that !in+s e*e( one,

an+ as s'ch a co&&on, co$$ecti*e, an+ a'thoitati*e %i$$, that can

f'nish a g'aantee of sec'it( to a$$. 0't the state of &en 'n+e a'ni*esa$, e)tena$, an+ #'!$ic $egis$ation, con"oine+ %ith

a'thoit( an+ #o%e, is ca$$e+ the ci*i$ state. Thee can theefoe !e

an e)tena$ &ine an+ thine on$( in the ci*i$ state of societ(.

Conse2'ence.3 It fo$$o%s, as a coo$$a(, that, if it is "'i+ica$$(

#ossi!$e to ha*e an e)tena$ o!"ect as one=s o%n, the in+i*i+'a$

s'!"ect of #ossession &'st !e a$$o%e+ to coe$ o constain e*e(

#eson %ith %ho& a +is#'te as to the &ine o thine of s'ch a

#ossession &a( aise, to ente a$ong %ith hi&se$f into the e$ations

of a ci*i$ constit'tion.


17/87

. Thee ?a(, Ho%e*e, 0e an E)tena$ ?ine an+ Thine Fo'n+ as

a Fact in the State of Nat'e, !'t it is on$( 5o*iso(.

Nat'a$ ight in the state of a ci*i$ constit'tion &eans the fo&s

of ight %hich &a( !e +e+'ce+ fo& #inci#$es a #ioi as the

con+itions of s'ch a constit'tion. It is theefoe not to !e infinge+

!( the stat'to( $a%s of s'ch a constit'tion an+ acco+ing$( the

"'i+ica$ #inci#$e e&ains in foce, that, 4Whoe*e #ocee+s '#on a

&a)i& !( %hich it !eco&es iossi!$e fo &e to ha*e an o!"ect of the

e)ecise of &( %i$$ as &ine, +oes &e a $esion o in"'(.4 Fo a

ci*i$ constit'tion is on$( the "'i+ica$ con+ition 'n+e %hich e*e(

one has %hat is his o%n &ee$( sec'e+ to hi&, as +isting'ishe+ fo&

its !eing s#ecia$$( assigne+ an+ +ete&ine+ to hi&. A$$ g'aantee,

theefoe, ass'&es that e*e(one to %ho& a thing is sec'e+ is a$ea+(

in #ossession of it as his o%n. Hence, #io to the ci*i$

constit'tion3 o a#at fo& it3 an e)tena$ &ine an+ thine &'st !e

ass'&e+ as #ossi!$e, an+ a$ong %ith it a ight to coe$ e*e(one %ith

%ho& %e co'$+ co&e into an( -in+ of inteco'se to ente %ith 's

into a constit'tion in %hich %hat is &ine o thine can !e sec'e+.

Thee &a( th's !e a #ossession in e)#ectation o in #e#aation fos'ch a state of sec'it(, as can on$( !e esta!$ishe+ on the $a% of the

co&&on %i$$ an+ as it is theefoe in acco+ance %ith the #ossi!i$it(

of s'ch a state, it constit'tes a #o*iso( o teoa( "'i+ica$

#ossession %heeas that #ossession %hich is fo'n+ in ea$it( in the

ci*i$ state of societ( %i$$ !e a #eeto( o g'aantee+

#ossession. 5io to enteing into this state, fo %hich he is

nat'a$$( #e#ae+, the in+i*i+'a$ ightf'$$( esists those %ho %i$$

not a+a#t the&se$*es to it, an+ %ho %o'$+ +ist'! hi& in his #o*iso(

#ossession !eca'se, if the %i$$ of a$$ e)ce#t hi&se$f %ee iosing

'#on hi& an o!$igation to %ith+a% fo& a cetain #ossession, it %o'$+

sti$$ !e on$( a one3si+e+ o 'ni$atea$ %i$$, an+ conse2'ent$( it

%o'$+ ha*e "'st as $itt$e $ega$ tit$e3 %hich can !e #o#e$( !ase+

on$( on the 'ni*esa$i9e+ %i$$3 to contest a c$ai& of ight as he

%o'$+ ha*e to asset it.


18/87

state of #'!$ic $ega$ fee+o& fo& a$$ #etension to the 'se of s'ch

an o!"ect. Fo s'ch a #oce+'e is e2'isite, in confo&it( %ith the

#ost'$ate of eason, in o+e to s'!"ect to &( #o#e 'se a thing

%hich %o'$+ othe%ise !e #actica$$( annihi$ate+, as ega+s a$$

#o#e 'se of it.

CH7

FIRST 5ART. 5RIVATE RIGHT.

The S(ste& of those La%s Which Re2'ie No E)tena$ 5o&'$gation.

CHA5TER II. The ?o+e of Ac2'iing An(thing E)tena$.

6. The Genea$ 5inci#$e of E)tena$ Ac2'isition.

I ac2'ie a thing %hen I act efficio/ so that it !eco&es &ine. An

e)tena$ thing is oigina$$( &ine %hen it is &ine e*en %itho't the

inte*ention of a "'i+ica$ act. An ac2'isition is oigina$ an+

#i&a( %hen it is not +ei*e+ fo& %hat anothe ha+ a$ea+( &a+e

his o%n.

Thee is nothing e)tena$ that is as s'ch oigina$$( &ine !'t

an(thing e)tena$ &a( !e oigina$$( ac2'ie+ %hen it is an o!"ect that

no othe #eson has (et &a+e his. A state in %hich the &ine an+

thine ae in co&&on cannot !e concei*e+ as ha*ing !een at an( ti&eoigina$. S'ch a state of things %o'$+ ha*e to !e ac2'ie+ !( an

e)tena$ "'i+ica$ act, a$tho'gh thee &a( !e an oigina$ an+ co&&on

#ossession of an e)tena$ o!"ect. E*en if %e thin- h(#othetica$$( of a

state in %hich the &ine an+ thine %o'$+ !e oigina$$( in co&&on as a

co&&'nio &ei et t'i oiginaia, it %o'$+ sti$$ ha*e to !e

+isting'ishe+ fo& a #i&e*a$ co&&'nion co&&'nio #i&ae*a/ %ith

things in co&&on, so&eti&es s'##ose+ to !e fo'n+e+ in the fist #eio+

of the e$ations of ight a&ong &en, an+ %hich co'$+ not !e ega+e+

as !ase+ '#on #inci#$es $i-e the fo&e, !'t on$( '#on histo(.

E*en 'n+e that con+ition the histoic co&&'nio, as a s'##ose+

#i&e*a$ co&&'nit(, %o'$+ a$%a(s ha*e to !e *ie%e+ as ac2'ie+ an+

+ei*ati*e co&&'nio +ei*ati*a/.

The #inci#$e of e)tena$ ac2'isition, then, &a( !e e)#esse+

th's: 4Whate*e I !ing 'n+e &( #o%e acco+ing to the $a% of

e)tena$ fee+o&, of %hich as an o!"ect of &( fee acti*it( of %i$$

I ha*e the ca#a!i$it( of &a-ing 'se acco+ing to the #ost'$ate of

the #actica$ eason, an+ %hich I %i$$ to !eco&e &ine in confo&it(

%ith the i+ea of a #ossi!$e 'nite+ co&&on %i$$, is &ine.4

The #actica$ e$e&ents &o&enta atten+en+a/ constit'ti*e of the

#ocess of oigina$ ac2'isition ae:

6. 5ehension o sei9'e of an o!"ect %hich !e$ongs to no one

fo, if it !e$onge+ a$ea+( to so&e one, the act %o'$+ conf$ict %ith

the fee+o& of othes, that is, acco+ing to 'ni*esa$ $a%s. This is

the ta-ing #ossession of an o!"ect of &( fee acti*it( of %i$$ in

s#ace an+ ti&e the #ossession, theefoe, into %hich I th's #'t

&(se$f is sensi!$e o #h(sica$ #ossession #ossessio #heno&enon/

7. Dec$aation of the #ossession of this o!"ect !( fo&a$+esignation an+ the act of &( fee%i$$ in inte+icting e*e( othe

#eson fo& 'sing it as his

8. A##o#iation, as the act, in i+ea, of an e)tena$$(

$egis$ati*e co&&on %i$$, !( %hich a$$ an+ each ae o!$ige+ to

es#ect an+ act in confo&it( %ith &( act of %i$$.

The *a$i+it( of the $ast e$e&ent in the #ocess of ac2'isition, as

that on %hich the conc$'sion that 4the e)tena$ o!"ect is &ine4 ests,

is %hat &a-es the #ossession *a$i+ as a #'e$( ationa$ an+

"'i+ica$ #ossession #ossessio no'&enon/. It is fo'n+e+ '#on the fact


19/87


20/87

entit$es &e to c$ai& an e)tena$ o!"ect fo& an( one %ho &a( a##ea as

its #ossesso, an+ to coe$ hi&, #e *in+icatione&, to #'t &e

again, in #$ace of hi&se$f, into #ossession of it1 Is this e)tena$

"'i+ica$ e$ation of &( %i$$ a -in+ of i&&e+iate e$ation to an

e)tena$ thing1 If so, %hoe*e &ight thin- of his ight as efeing

not i&&e+iate$( to #esons !'t to things %o'$+ ha*e to e#esent it,

a$tho'gh on$( in an o!sc'e %a(, so&e%hat th's. A ight on one si+e

has a$%a(s a +'t( coes#on+ing to it on the othe, so that an

e)tena$ thing, a$tho'gh a%a( fo& the han+s of its fist #ossesso,

contin'es to !e sti$$ connecte+ %ith hi& !( a contin'ing o!$igation

an+ th's it ef'ses to fa$$ 'n+e the c$ai& of an( othe #ossesso,

!eca'se it is a$ea+( !o'n+ to anothe. In this %a( &( ight, *ie%e+

as a -in+ of goo+ geni's accoan(ing a thing an+ #ese*ing it fo&

a$$ e)tena$ attac-, %o'$+ efe an a$ien #ossesso a$%a(s to &e It

is, ho%e*e, a!s'+ to thin- of an o!$igation of #esons to%a+s

things, an+ con*ese$( a$tho'gh it &a( !e a$$o%e+ in an( #atic'$a

case to e#esent the "'i+ica$ e$ation !( a sensi!$e i&age of this

-in+, an+ to e)#ess it in this %a(.

The ea$ +efinition %o'$+ 'n th's: 4Right in a thing is a ight

to the #i*ate 'se of a thing, of %hich I a& in #ossession3 oigina$

o +ei*ati*e3 in co&&on %ith a$$ othes.4 Fo this is the onecon+ition 'n+e %hich it is a$one #ossi!$e that I can e)c$'+e e*e(

othes #ossesso fo& the #i*ate 'se of the thing "'s conta

2'e&$i!et h'"'s ei #ossessoe&/. Fo, e)ce#t !( #es'##osing s'ch a

co&&on co$$ecti*e #ossession, it cannot !e concei*e+ ho%, %hen I a&

not in act'a$ #ossession of a thing, I co'$+ !e in"'e+ o %onge+

!( othes %ho ae in #ossession of it an+ 'se it. 0( an in+i*i+'a$ act

of &( o%n %i$$ I cannot o!$ige an( othe #eson to a!stain fo& the

'se of a thing in es#ect of %hich he %o'$+ othe%ise !e 'n+e no

o!$igation an+, acco+ing$(, s'ch an o!$igation can on$( aise fo&

the co$$ecti*e %i$$ of a$$ 'nite+ in a e$ation of co&&on

#ossession. Othe%ise, I %o'$+ ha*e to thin- of a ight in a thing, as

if the thing has an o!$igation to%a+s &e, an+ as if the ight as

against e*e( #ossesso of it ha+ to !e +ei*e+ fo& this o!$igation

in the thing, %hich is an a!s'+ %a( of e#esenting the s'!"ect.

F'the, !( the te& ea$ ight "'s ea$e/ is &eant not on$( the

ight in a thing "'s in e/, !'t a$so the constit'ti*e #inci#$e of

a$$ the $a%s %hich e$ate to the ea$ &ine an+ thine. It is,

ho%e*e, e*i+ent that a &an entie$( a$one '#on the eath co'$+

#o#e$( neithe ha*e no ac2'ie an( e)tena$ thing as his o%n

!eca'se, !et%een hi& as a #eson an+ a$$ e)tena$ things as &ateia$

o!"ects, thee co'$+ !e no e$ations of o!$igation. Thee is

theefoe, $itea$$(, no +iect ight in a thing, !'t on$( that

ight is to !e #o#e$( ca$$e+ 4ea$4 %hich !e$ongs to an( one as

constit'te+ against a #eson, %ho is in co&&on #ossession of things

%ith a$$ othes in the ci*i$ state of societ(.

67. The Fist Ac2'isition of a Thing can on$( !e that of the Soi$.

0( the soi$ is 'n+estoo+ a$$ ha!ita!$e Lan+. In e$ation to

e*e(thing that is &o*ea!$e '#on it, it is to !e ega+e+ as a

s'!stance, an+ the &o+e of the e)istence of the &o*ea!$es is *ie%e+ as

an inheence in it. An+ "'st as, in the theoetica$ acce#tance,

acci+ents cannot e)ist a#at fo& thei s'!stances, so, in the

#actica$ e$ation, &o*ea!$es '#on the soi$ cannot !e ega+e+ as

!e$onging to an( one 'n$ess he is s'##ose+ to ha*e !een #e*io's$(


21/87

in "'i+ica$ #ossession of the soi$, so that it is th's consi+ee+

to !e his.

Fo, $et it !e s'##ose+ that the soi$ !e$ongs to no one. Then I

%o'$+ !e entit$e+ to e&o*e e*e( &o*ea!$e thing fo'n+ '#on it fo&

its #$ace, e*en to tota$ $oss of it, in o+e to occ'#( that #$ace,

%itho't infinging thee!( on the fee+o& of an( othe thee !eing,

!( the h(#othesis, no #ossesso of it at a$$. 0't e*e(thing that

can !e +esto(e+, s'ch as a tee, a ho'se, an+ s'ch $i-e3 as ega+s

its &atte at $east3 is &o*ea!$e an+ if %e ca$$ a thing %hich

cannot !e &o*e+ %itho't +est'ction of its fo& an i&&o*ea!$e, the

&ine an+ thine in it is not 'n+estoo+ as a##$(ing to its s'!stance,

!'t to that %hich is a+heent to it an+ %hich +oes not essentia$$(

constit'te the thing itse$f.

68. E*e( 5at of the Soi$ &a( !e Oigina$$( Ac2'ie+ an+

the 5inci#$e of the 5ossi!i$it( of s'ch Ac2'isition

is the Oigina$ Co&&'nit( of the Soi$ Genea$$(.

The fist c$a'se of this #o#osition is fo'n+e+ '#on the #ost'$ate

of the #actica$ eason SS 7/ the secon+ is esta!$ishe+ !( the

fo$$o%ing #oof. A$$ &en ae oigina$$( an+ !efoe an( "'i+ica$ act of %i$$ in

ightf'$ #ossession of the soi$ that is, the( ha*e a ight to !e

%hee*e nat'e o chance has #$ace+ the& %itho't thei %i$$.

5ossession #ossessio/, %hich is to !e +isting'ishe+ fo&

esi+entia$ sett$e&ent se+es/ as a *o$'nta(, ac2'ie+, an+ #e&anent

#ossession, !eco&es co&&on #ossession, on acco'nt of the connection

%ith each othe of a$$ the #$aces on the s'face of the eath as a

g$o!e. Fo, ha+ the s'face of the eath !een an infinite #$ain, &en

co'$+ ha*e !een so +is#ese+ '#on it that the( &ight not ha*e co&e

into an( necessa( co&&'nion %ith each othe, an+ a state of socia$

co&&'nit( %o'$+ not ha*e !een a necessa( conse2'ence of thei

e)istence '#on the eath. No% that #ossession #o#e to a$$ &en '#on

the eath, %hich is #io to a$$ thei #atic'$a "'i+ica$ acts,

constit'tes an oigina$ #ossession in co&&on co&&'nio #ossessionis

oiginaia/. The conce#tion of s'ch an oigina$, co&&on #ossession

of things is not +ei*e+ fo& e)#eience, no is it +e#en+ent on

con+itions of ti&e, as is the case %ith the i&agina( an+

in+e&onsta!$e fiction of a #i&ae*a$ co&&'nit( of #ossession in

act'a$ histo(. Hence it is a #actica$ conce#tion of eason,

in*o$*ing in itse$f the on$( #inci#$e acco+ing to %hich &en &a(

'se the #$ace the( ha##en to occ'#( on the s'face of the eath, in

acco+ance %ith $a%s of ight.

6@. The ;'i+ica$ Act of this Oigina$

Ac2'isition is Occ'#anc(.

The act of ta-ing #ossession a##ehensio/, !eing at its !eginningthe #h(sica$ a##o#iation of a co#oea$ thing in s#ace #ossessionis

#h(sicae/, can acco+ %ith the $a% of the e)tena$ fee+o& of a$$,

'n+e no othe con+ition than that of its #ioit( in es#ect of ti&e.

In this e$ation it &'st ha*e the chaacteistic of a fist act in the

%a( of ta-ing #ossession, as a fee e)ecise of %i$$. The acti*it(

of %i$$, ho%e*e, as +ete&ining that the thing3 in this case a

+efinite se#aate #$ace on the s'face of the eath3 sha$$ !e &ine,

!eing an act of a##o#iation, cannot !e othe%ise in the case of

oigina$ ac2'isition than in+i*i+'a$ o 'ni$atea$ *o$'ntas


22/87

'ni$atea$is s. #o#ia/. No%, occ'#anc( is the ac2'isition of an

e)tena$ o!"ect !( an in+i*i+'a$ act of %i$$. The oigina$ ac2'isition

of s'ch an o!"ect as a $i&ite+ #otion of the soi$ can theefoe

on$( !e acco$ishe+ !( an act of occ'#ation.

The #ossi!i$it( of this &o+e of ac2'isition cannot !e int'iti*e$(

a##ehen+e+ !( #'e eason in an( %a(, no esta!$ishe+ !( its

#inci#$es, !'t is an i&&e+iate conse2'ence fo& the #ost'$ate of

the #actica$ eason. The %i$$ as #actica$ eason, ho%e*e, cannot

"'stif( e)tena$ ac2'isition othe%ise than on$( in so fa as it is

itse$f inc$'+e+ in an a!so$'te$( a'thoitati*e %i$$, %ith %hich it

is 'nite+ !( i$ication o, in othe %o+s, on$( in so fa as it

is containe+ %ithin a 'nion of the %i$$s of a$$ %ho co&e into

#actica$ e$ation %ith each othe. Fo an in+i*i+'a$, 'ni$atea$

%i$$3 an+ the sa&e a##$ies to a +'a$ o othe #atic'$a %i$$3

cannot iose on a$$ an o!$igation %hich is contingent in itse$f. This

e2'ies an o&ni$atea$ o 'ni*esa$ %i$$, %hich is not contingent,

!'t a #ioi, an+ %hich is theefoe necessai$( 'nite+ an+

$egis$ati*e. On$( in acco+ance %ith s'ch a #inci#$e can thee !e

agee&ent of the acti*e fee3%i$$ of each in+i*i+'a$ %ith the

fee+o& of a$$, an+ conse2'ent$( ights in genea$, o e*en the

#ossi!i$it( of an e)tena$ &ine an+ thine.

6. It is On$( %ithin a Ci*i$ Constit'tion that An(thing can

!e Ac2'ie+ 5eetoi$(, %heeas in the State of Nat'e

Ac2'isition can on$( !e 5o*iso(.

A ci*i$ constit'tion is o!"ecti*e$( necessa( as a +'t(, a$tho'gh

s'!"ecti*e$( its ea$it( is contingent. Hence, thee is connecte+ %ith

it a ea$ nat'a$ $a% of ight, to %hich a$$ e)tena$ ac2'isition is

s'!"ecte+.

The eiica$ tit$e of ac2'isition has !een sho%n to !e

constit'te+ !( the ta-ing #h(sica$ #ossession a##ehensio #h(sica/ as

fo'n+e+ '#on an oigina$ co&&'nit( of ight in a$$ to the soi$. An+

!eca'se a #ossession in the #heno&ena$ s#hee of sense can on$( !e

s'!o+inate+ to that #ossession %hich is in acco+ance %ith ationa$

conce#tions of ight, thee &'st coes#on+ to this #h(sica$ act of

#ossession a ationa$ &o+e of ta-ing #ossession !( e$i&ination of

a$$ the eiica$ con+itions in s#ace an+ ti&e. This ationa$ fo&

of #ossession esta!$ishes the #o#osition that 4%hate*e I !ing 'n+e

&( #o%e in acco+ance %ith $a%s of e)tena$ fee+o&, an+ %i$$ that it

sha$$ !e &ine, !eco&es &ine.4

The ationa$ tit$e of ac2'isition can theefoe on$( $ie

oigina$$( in the i+ea of the %i$$ of a$$ 'nite+ i$icit$(, o

necessai$( to !e 'nite+, %hich is hee tacit$( ass'&e+ as an

in+is#ensa!$e con+ition con+itio sine 2'a non/. Fo !( a sing$e

%i$$ thee cannot !e iose+ '#on othes an o!$igation !( %hich the(

%o'$+ not ha*e !een othe%ise !o'n+. 0't the fact fo&e+ !( %i$$s

act'a$$( an+ 'ni*esa$$( 'nite+ in a $egis$ation constit'tes the ci*i$state of societ(. Hence, it is on$( in confo&it( %ith the i+ea of a

ci*i$ state of societ(, o in efeence to it an+ its ea$i9ation,

that an(thing e)tena$ can !e ac2'ie+. 0efoe s'ch a state is

ea$i9e+, an+ in antici#ation of it, ac2'isition, %hich %o'$+

othe%ise !e +ei*e+, is conse2'ent$( on$( #o*iso(. The

ac2'isition %hich is #eeto( fin+s #$ace on$( in the ci*i$ state.

Ne*ethe$ess, s'ch #o*iso( ac2'isition is ea$ ac2'isition. Fo,

acco+ing to the #ost'$ate of the "'i+ica$$( #actica$ eason, the

#ossi!i$it( of ac2'isition in %hate*e state &en &a( ha##en to !e


23/87

$i*ing !esi+e one anothe, an+ theefoe in the state of nat'e as

%e$$, is a #inci#$e of #i*ate ight. An+ in acco+ance %ith this

#inci#$e, e*e( one is "'stifie+ o entit$e+ to e)ecise that

co'$sion !( %hich it a$one !eco&es #ossi!$e to #ass o't of the state

of nat'e an+ to ente into that state of ci*i$ societ( %hich a$one

can &a-e a$$ ac2'isition #eeto(.

It is a 2'estion as to ho% fa the ight of ta-ing #ossession of the

soi$ e)ten+s. The ans%e is, So fa as the ca#a!i$it( of ha*ing it

'n+e one=s #o%e e)ten+s that is, "'st as fa as he %ho %i$$s to

a##o#iate it can +efen+ it, as if the soi$ %ee to sa(: 4If (o'

cannot #otect &e, neithe can (o' co&&an+ &e.4 In this %a( the

conto*es( a!o't %hat constit'tes a fee o c$ose+ sea &'st !e

+eci+e+. Th's, %ithin the ange of a cannon3shot no one has a ight to

int'+e on the coast of a co'nt( that a$ea+( !e$ongs to a cetain

state, in o+e to fish o gathe a&!e on the shoe, o s'ch $i-e.

F'the, the 2'estion is #'t, 4Is c'$ti*ation of the soi$, !(

!'i$+ing, agic'$t'e, +ainage, etc., necessa( in o+e to its

ac2'isition14 No. Fo, as these #ocesses as fo&s of s#ecification

ae on$( acci+ents, the( +o not constit'te o!"ects of i&&e+iate

#ossession an+ can on$( !e$ong to the s'!"ect in so fa as thes'!stance of the& has !een a$ea+( ecogni9e+ as his. When it is a

2'estion of the fist ac2'isition of a thing, the c'$ti*ation o

&o+ification of it !( $a!o' fo&s nothing &oe than an e)tena$

sign of the fact that it has !een ta-en into #ossession, an+ this

can !e in+icate+ !( &an( othe signs that cost $ess to'!$e. Again:

4?a( an( one !e hin+ee+ in the act of ta-ing #ossession, so that

neithe one no othe of t%o coetitos sha$$ ac2'ie the ight of

#ioit(, an+ the soi$ in conse2'ence &a( e&ain fo a$$ ti&e fee

as !e$onging to no one14 Not at a$$. S'ch a hin+ance cannot !e

a$$o%e+ to ta-e #$ace, !eca'se the secon+ of the t%o, in o+e to !e

ena!$e+ to +o this, %o'$+ hi&se$f ha*e to !e '#on so&e neigh!o'ing

soi$, %hee he a$so, in this &anne, co'$+ !e hin+ee+ fo& !eing, an+

s'ch a!so$'te hin+eing %o'$+ in*o$*e a conta+iction. It %o'$+,

ho%e*e, !e 2'ite consistent %ith the ight of occ'#ation, in the case

of a cetain inte*ening #iece of the soi$, to $et it $ie 'n'se+ as

a ne'ta$ go'n+ fo the se#aation of t%o neigh!o'ing states !'t

'n+e s'ch a con+ition, that go'n+ %o'$+ act'a$$( !e$ong to the& !oth

in co&&on, an+ %o'$+ not !e %itho't an o%ne es n'$$i's/, "'st

!eca'se it %o'$+ !e 'se+ !( !oth in o+e to fo& a se#aation !et%een

the&. Again: 4?a( one ha*e a thing as his, on a soi$ of %hich no one

has a##o#iate+ an( #at as his o%n14


24/87

nat'e no chance, !'t &ee$( o' o%n %i$$, !ings 's into the

neigh!o'hoo+ of a #eo#$e that gi*es no #o&ise of a #os#ect of

enteing into ci*i$ 'nion %ith 's, %e ae to !e consi+ee+ entit$e+ in

an( case to #ocee+ %ith foce in the intention of fo'n+ing s'ch a

'nion, an+ !inging into a "'i+ica$ state s'ch &en as the sa*age

A&eican In+ians, the Hottentots,an+ the Ne% Ho$$an+es o3 an+ the

case is not &'ch !ette3 %hethe %e &a( esta!$ish co$onies !(

+ece#ti*e #'chase, an+ so !eco&e o%nes of thei soi$, an+, in

genea$, %itho't ega+ to thei fist #ossession, &a-e 'se at %i$$ of

o' s'#eioit( in e$ation to the&1 F'the, &a( it not !e he$+

that Nat'e hese$f, as a!hoing a *ac''&, see&s to +e&an+ s'ch a

#oce+'e, an+ that $age egions in othe continents, that ae no%

&agnificent$( #eo#$e+, %o'$+ othe%ise ha*e e&aine+ 'n#ossesse+ !(

ci*i$i9e+ inha!itants an+ &ight ha*e fo e*e e&aine+ th's, so that

the en+ of ceation %o'$+ ha*e so fa !een f'state+1 It is a$&ost

'nnecessa( to ans%e fo it is eas( to see tho'gh a$$ this f$i&s(

*ei$ of in"'stice, %hich "'st a&o'nts to the ;es'itis& of &a-ing a

goo+ en+ "'stif( an( &eans. This &o+e of ac2'iing the soi$ is,

theefoe, to !e e#'+iate+.

The in+efiniteness of e)tena$ ac2'ia!$e o!"ects in es#ect of

thei 2'antit(, as %e$$ as thei 2'a$it(, &a-es the #o!$e& of theso$e #i&a( e)tena$ ac2'isition of the& one of the &ost +iffic'$t to

so$*e. Thee &'st, ho%e*e, !e so&e one fist ac2'isition of an

e)tena$ o!"ect fo e*e( Ac2'isition cannot !e +ei*ati*e. Hence,

the #o!$e& is not to !e gi*en '# as inso$'!$e o in itse$f as

iossi!$e. If it is so$*e+ !( efeence to the oigina$ contact,

'n$ess this contact is e)ten+e+ so as to inc$'+e the %ho$e h'&an

ace, ac2'isition 'n+e it %o'$+ sti$$ e&ain !'t #o*isiona$.

6B. E)#osition of the Conce#tion of a 5i&a(

Ac2'isition of the Soi$.

A$$ &en ae oigina$$( in a co&&on co$$ecti*e #ossession of the soi$

of the %ho$e eath co&&'nio f'n+i oiginaia/, an+ the( ha*e

nat'a$$( each a %i$$ to 'se it $e) "'sti/. 0't on acco'nt of the

o##osition of the fee %i$$ of one to that of the othe in the

s#hee of action, %hich is ine*ita!$e !( nat'e, a$$ 'se of the soi$

%o'$+ !e #e*ente+ +i+ not e*e( %i$$ contain at the sa&e ti&e a $a%

fo the eg'$ation of the e$ation of a$$ %i$$s in action, acco+ing

to %hich a #atic'$a #ossession can !e +ete&ine+ to e*e( one '#on

the co&&on soi$. This is the "'i+ica$ $a% $e) "'i+ica/. 0't the

+isti!'ti*e $a% of the &ine an+ thine, as a##$ica!$e to each

in+i*i+'a$ on the soi$, acco+ing to the a)io& of e)tena$ fee+o&,

cannot #ocee+ othe%ise than fo& a #i&ai$( 'nite+ %i$$ a #ioi3

%hich +oes not #es'##ose an( "'i+ica$ act as e2'isite fo this

'nion. This La% can on$( ta-e fo& in the ci*i$ state $e) "'stitiae

+isti!'ti*ae/ as it is in this state a$one that the 'nite+ co&&on

%i$$ +ete&ines %hat is ight, %hat is ightf'$, an+ %hat is theconstit'tion of Right. In efeence to this state, ho%e*e3 an+

#io to its esta!$ish&ent an+ in *ie% of it3 it is #o*isoi$( a +'t(

fo e*e( one to #ocee+ acco+ing to the $a% of e)tena$ ac2'isition

an+ acco+ing$( it is a "'i+ica$ #oce+'e on the #at of the %i$$ to

$a( e*e( one 'n+e o!$igation to ecognise the act of #ossessing

an+ a##o#iating, a$tho'gh it !e on$( 'ni$atea$$(. Hence a #o*iso(

ac2'isition of the soi$, %ith a$$ its "'i+ica$ conse2'ences, is

#ossi!$e in the state of nat'e.

S'ch an ac2'isition, ho%e*e, e2'ies an+ a$so o!tains the fa*o'


25/87

of a #e&issi*e $a% $e) #e&issi*a/, in es#ect of the

+ete&ination of the $i&its of "'i+ica$$( #ossi!$e #ossession. Fo it

#ece+es the "'i+ica$ state, an+ as &ee$( into+'cto( to it is

not (et #eeto( an+ this fa*o' +oes not e)ten+ fathe than the

+ate of the consent of the othe co3o#eatos in the esta!$ish&ent

of the ci*i$ state. 0't if the( ae o##ose+ to enteing into the ci*i$

state, as $ong as this o##osition $asts it caies a$$ the effect of a

g'aantee+ "'i+ica$ ac2'isition %ith it, !eca'se the a+*ance fo& the

state of nat'e to the ci*i$ state is fo'n+e+ '#on a +'t(.

6. De+'ction of the Conce#tion of the Oigina$

5i&a( Ac2'isition.

We ha*e fo'n+ the tit$e of ac2'isition in a 'ni*esa$ oigina$

co&&'nit( of the soi$, 'n+e the con+itions of an e)tena$ ac2'isition

in s#ace an+ the &o+e of ac2'isition is containe+ in the eiica$

fact of ta-ing #ossession a##ehensio/, con"oine+ %ith the %i$$ to

ha*e an e)tena$ o!"ect as one=s o%n. It is f'the necessa( to

'nfo$+, fo& the #inci#$es of the #'e "'i+ica$$( #actica$ eason

in*o$*e+ in the conce#tion, the "'i+ica$ ac2'isition #o#e of an

o!"ect3 that is, the e)tena$ &ine an+ thine that fo$$o%s fo& the t%o#e*io's con+itions, as ationa$ #ossession #ossessio no'&enon/.

The "'i+ica$ conce#tion of the e)tena$ &ine an+ thine, so fa as

it in*o$*es the catego( of s'!stance, cannot !( 4that %hich is

e)tena$ to &e4 &ean &ee$( 4in a #$ace othe than that in %hich I

a&4 fo it is a ationa$ conce#tion. As 'n+e the conce#tions of

the eason on$( inte$$ect'a$ conce#tions can !e e&!ace+, the

e)#ession in 2'estion can on$( signif( 4so&ething that is +iffeent

an+ +istinct fo& &e4 acco+ing to the i+ea of a non3eiica$

#ossession tho'gh, as it %ee, a contin'o's acti*it( in ta-ing

#ossession of an e)tena$ o!"ect an+ it in*o$*es on$( the notion of

ha*ing so&ething in &( #o%e, %hich in+icates the connection of an

o!"ect %ith &(se$f, as a s'!"ecti*e con+ition of the #ossi!i$it( of

&a-ing 'se of it. This fo&s a #'e$( inte$$ect'a$ conce#tion of the

'n+estan+ing. No% %e can $ea*e o't o a!stact fo& the sensi!$e

con+itions of #ossession, as e$ations of a #eson to o!"ects %hich

ha*e no o!$igation. This #ocess of e$i&ination "'st gi*es the

ationa$ e$ation of a #eson to #esons an+ it is s'ch that he can

!in+ the& a$$ !( an o!$igation in efeence to the 'se of things

tho'gh his act of %i$$, so fa as it is confo&a!$e to the a)io& of

fee+o&, the #ost'$ate of ight, an+ the 'ni*esa$ $egis$ation of

the co&&on %i$$, concei*e+ as 'nite+ a #ioi. This is theefoe the

ationa$ inte$$igi!$e #ossession of things as !( #'e ight,

a$tho'gh the( ae o!"ects of sense.

It is e*i+ent that the fist &o+ification, $i&itation, o

tansfo&ation genea$$(, of a #otion of the soi$ cannot of itse$f

f'nish a tit$e to its ac2'isition, since #ossession of an acci+ent+oes not fo& a go'n+ fo $ega$ #ossession of the s'!stance.

Rathe, con*ese$(, the infeence as to the &ine an+ thine &'st !e

+a%n fo& o%neshi# of the s'!stance acco+ing to the '$e:

Accessai'& se2'it' s''& #inci#a$e. Hence one %ho has s#ent $a!o'

on a #iece of go'n+ that %as not a$ea+( his o%n, has $ost his effot

an+ %o- to the fo&e o%ne. This #osition is so e*i+ent of itse$f

that the o$+ o#inion to the o##osite effect, that is sti$$ s#ea+

fa an+ %i+e, can ha+$( !e asci!e+ to an( othe than the

#e*ai$ing i$$'sion %hich 'nconscio's$( $ea+s to the #esonification


26/87

of things an+, then, as if the( co'$+ !e !o'n+ 'n+e an o!$igation !(

the $a!o' !esto%e+ '#on the& to !e at the se*ice of the #eson %ho

+oes the $a!o', to ega+ the& as his !( i&&e+iate ight. Othe%ise

it is #o!a!$e that the nat'a$ 2'estion3 a$ea+( +isc'sse+3 %o'$+ not

ha*e !een #asse+ o*e %ith so $ight a tea+, na&e$(: 4Ho% is a ight

in a thing #ossi!$e14 Fo, ight as against e*e( #ossi!$e #ossesso

of a thing &eans on$( the c$ai& of a #atic'$a %i$$ to the 'se of

an o!"ect so fa as it &a( !e inc$'+e+ in the a$$3coehen+ing

'ni*esa$ %i$$, an+ can !e tho'ght as in ha&on( %ith its $a%.

As ega+s !o+ies sit'ate+ '#on a #iece of go'n+ %hich is a$ea+(

&ine, if the( othe%ise !e$ong to no othe #eson, the( !e$ong to &e

%itho't &( e2'iing an( #atic'$a "'i+ica$ act fo the #'#ose of

this ac2'isition the( ae &ine not facto, !'t $ege. Fo the( &a( !e

ega+e+ as acci+ents inheing in the s'!stance of the soi$, an+

the( ae th's &ine "'e ei &eae. To this catego( a$so !e$ongs

e*e(thing %hich is so connecte+ %ith an(thing of &ine that it

cannot !e se#aate+ fo& %hat is &ine %itho't a$teing it

s'!stantia$$(. E)a$es of this ae gi$+ing on an o!"ect, &i)t'e of a

&ateia$ !e$onging to &e %ith othe things, a$$'*ia$ +e#osit, o

e*en a$teation of the a+"oining !e+ of a stea& o i*e in &( fa*o'

so as to #o+'ce an incease of &( $an+, etc. 0( the sa&e#inci#$es, the 2'estion &'st a$so !e +eci+e+ as to %hethe the

ac2'ia!$e soi$ &a( e)ten+ fathe than the e)isting $an+, so as

e*en to inc$'+e #at of the !e+ of the sea, %ith the ight to fish

on &( o%n shoes, to gathe a&!e an+ s'ch $i-e. So fa as I ha*e

the &echanica$ ca#a!i$it( fo& &( o%n site, as the #$ace I occ'#(,

to sec'e &( soi$ fo& the attac- of othes3 an+, theefoe, as fa as

cannon can ca( fo& the shoe3 a$$ is inc$'+e+ in &( #ossession, an+

the sea is th's fa c$ose+ &ae c$a's'&/. 0't as thee is no site fo

occ'#ation '#on the %i+e sea itse$f, #ossi!$e #ossession cannot !e

e)ten+e+ so fa, an+ the o#en sea is fee &ae $i!e'&/. 0't in the

case of &en, o things that !e$ong to the&, !eco&ing stan+e+ on the

shoe, since the fact is not *o$'nta(, it cannot !e ega+e+ !( the

o%ne of the shoe as gi*ing hi& a ight of ac2'isition. Fo shi#%ec-

is not an act of %i$$, no is its es'$t a $esion to hi& an+ things

%hich &a( ha*e co&e th's '#on his soi$, as sti$$ !e$onging to so&e

one, ae not to !e teate+ as !eing %itho't an o%ne o es n'$$i's.

On the othe han+, a i*e, so fa as #ossession of the !an-

eaches, &a( !e oigina$$( ac2'ie+, $i-e an( othe #iece of go'n+,

'n+e the a!o*e estictions, !( one %ho is in #ossession of !oth

its !an-s.

5RO5ERT


27/87

at its #o#e #$ace hee, !'t is on$( &entione+ inci+enta$$( fo the

!ette e$'ci+ation of %hat has "'st !een sai+. It &a( !e f'the

o!se*e+ that thee &a( !e t%o f'$$ #o#ietos of one an+ the sa&e

thing, %itho't thee !eing a &ine an+ thine in co&&on, !'t on$( in

so fa as the( ae co&&on #ossessos of %hat !e$ongs on$( to one of

the& as his o%n. In s'ch a case the %ho$e #ossession, %itho't the

'se of the thing, !e$ongs to one on$( of the co3#o#ietos

con+o&ini/ %hi$e to the o

I.kant the Science of Right

Documents

Transcript of I.kant the Science of Right