Corrections

Discourse on voluntary servitude - Etienne de la Boétie – 1548 Principal idea : - Etienne de la Boétie ensures power isn't good wether it belongs to one or several masters.

He's curious to know how could a monarchy ( England ) with one lord can belong to the Commonwealth since the entire wealth of the country belongs to this lord.

- To him, it is preposterous that so many men can accept the submission to someone.

If million of people do not react to quell the power of one, it is not called cowardice.

It has no name.

Populations scorn freedom.

- Plus, it would suffice if only people could (im not sure of this tense) only feel the desire tu be free, it will deliver us.

Indeed, the tyrant is not really the one who forces people to obey, people gives him everything before he ever uses force.

It is why he talks about a voluntary servitude.

But how can the willingness of submission be so deeply rooted among the people ?

3 reasons for Etienne De la Boétie : 1.

Custom of the submission : - It is not natural to submit to anything or to someone.

Even if Nature do not give us equal parts.

If someone is stronger than somebody, it is to help this very one weaker person.

That is because Nature is fair and inequality is unatural.

We have the example with beasts : as we try to tame them, they fight back.

So it is natural for the Man to be free and to feel free.

- But some of them can not feel this, because they' re born under the yoke.

Therefore, they naturally obey the tyrant without any regret, considering their condition is natural.

Indeed, we never regret what we never had.

Nature has less power over us than custom.

Only education and knowledge can wake them up. 2.

Manipulation of the people : Tyrants use leisure activities such as theatres, brothels … To occupy the spirit of the people and they also set up a doubt in their minds wether they may be more than a man.

They manipulate them with supersitions and religion.

Gullible person believed in misleading stories sometimes invented by some foolish people themselves. 3.

The search of interests, benefits from tyrants When a tyrant appears, many want to take advantage of his powerful situation.

But it is actually a mutual benefit.

As his valets are getting powerful and wealthier, the tyrant can remain the pyramidal structure of the society which he has the control from the very top of it.

It would suffice that one of his valet breaks this structure to return to freedom.