Question

"Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one; for when we suffer or are exposed to the same miseries by a government, which we might expect in a country without government, our calamity is heightened by reflecting that we furnish the means by which we suffer."—Thomas Paine

Which of the following Enlightenment ideas does Thomas Paine reflect in the phrase "furnish the means"?

Separation of powers, because the means of government are the responsibilities of each part
Limited government, because creating a limited government would only cause suffering
Social contract, because people can agree to a bad government as easily as to a good one
Natural law, because leaving a people to a state of nature would cause suffering

Answer 1

The phrase "furnish the means" in Thomas Paine's quote reflects the Enlightenment idea of:

Social contract, because people can agree to a bad government as easily as to a good one.

Thomas Paine is expressing the notion that governments exist through a social contract, where individuals agree to be governed. In this context, "furnishing the means" means that people provide the resources, consent, and support for the government, whether it is good or bad. This reflects the idea that people can be subject to the consequences of their choice to be governed, even if the government becomes oppressive or fails to serve their interests.