[2] But, asmencannotengendernewforces, butonlyuniteanddirectexistingones, theyhavenoothermeansofpreservingthemselvesthantheformation, byaggregation, , andcausetoactinconcert.1
[3] Thissumofforcescanariseonlywhereseveralpersonscometogether: but, astheforceandlibertyofeachmanarethechiefinstrumentsofhisself-preservation, howcanhepledgethemwithoutharminghisowninterests, andneglectingthecareheowestohimself? Thisdifficulty, initsbearingonmypresentsubject, maybestatedinthefollowingterms:
[4]“Theproblemistofindaformofassociationwhichwilldefendandprotectwiththewholecommonforcethepersonandgoodsofeachassociate, andinwhicheach, whileunitinghimselfwithall, maystillobeyhimselfalone, andremainasfreeasbefore.” ThisisthefundamentalproblemforwhichTheSocialContractprovidesthesolution.
[5] Theclausesofthiscontractaresodeterminedbythenatureoftheactthattheslightestmodificationwouldmakethemvainandineffective; sothat, althoughtheyhaveperhapsneverbeenformallysetforth, theyareeverywherethesameandeverywheretacitlyadmittedandrecognized, until, ontheviolationofthesocialcompact, eachregainshisoriginalrightsandresumeshisnaturalliberty, whilelosingtheconventionallibertyinfavorofwhichherenouncedit.
[6] Theseclauses, properlyunderstood, maybereducedtoone — thetotalalienationofeachassociate, togetherwithallhisrights, tothewholecommunity; for, inthefirstplace, aseachgiveshimselfabsolutely, theconditionsarethesameforall; and, thisbeingso, noonehasanyinterestinmakingthemburdensometoothers.
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