Slavery
The author begins his discussion of slavery with
the statement that "no man has any natural
authority over his fellows," adding that force as an
imposition of an unnatural authority is contrary to
human nature. He cites two examples to support
this premise. First, he asserts that national or social
tranquillity imposed by a despot or tyrant is in fact
a source of misery and suffering, and that people
living under the authority of such a man who find
their experience peaceful are, in fact, spiritually as
well as physically enslaved. "To renounce our
liberty," he says, "is to renounce our quality of man,
and with it all the rights and duties of humanity."