About Sovereigns and Tyrants Essay Example for Free

About Sovereigns and Tyrants Essay There is a great distinction between a sovereign and a tyrant, although oftentimes people are confused by the meaning of the two. A sovereign is a leader of state that acquired his or her position by being elected or appointed by the people. A tyrant, on the other hand, is a self proclaimed leader, assuming leadership â€Å"without election, or right of succession, or lot, or a just war, or a special calling from God† (Bodin, 1992). Under the circumstances of tyranny, it is lawful or permissible to kill the tyrant. The primary moral reason here, especially in a democratic state, is to bring back power to the hands of the people. However, there is an exception here. If, after assuming tyranny, the tyrant’s rule becomes ratified by election or permission from the people, then it is no longer permissible to kill or persecute the tyrant without a fair trial. See more:  The 3 Types of Satire Essay It is possible for a sovereign prince to become a tyrant. When this happens, some people who share authority over the state (such as senators, aristocrats, and the people themselves) have a right to eliminate the sovereign-tyrant in order to deliver the unjustly oppressed. This can either be done by means of law, or by means of force. A foreign ruler may also be rather fit to do this task than the citizens of the state. On the other hand, a true sovereign ruler differs from a tyrant in that he (or she) has rightful absolute power over the entire state and he doesn’t share it with any of his subjects. Monarchs of England during older times are good examples of sovereign rulers. They obtained their leadership by law and birthright, and thus they cannot be considered as tyrants. It is not lawful then, to unjustly kill, plot against, resist, or even think about hurting a sovereign ruler. Such an act is nothing less than high treason and punishable by death. Bibliography: Bodin, J. (1992). On sovereignty (J.H. Franklin, Ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press