Rights in Civil Society - Section Two
Part Three
Appendix To The Philosophy Of Right —
The Better Construction Of Civil Society
Chapter 10
Continuation — Balance between knowledge and virtue
2608. Knowledge which is not balanced by virtue falsifies itself to become mankind's greatest enemy. This imbalance pertains properly speaking to universal, theocratic society, not to civil society. Just as the law of the regular construction of the family consists in the balance between population and wealth, so the law of the natural, regular state of the society of the human race and of the Church consists in the balance between knowledge and virtue.
2609. But just as the irregular state of families upsets civil society, so the irregularity thrust into theocratic society through the imbalance between knowledge and virtue brings about immense disasters in civil association.
2610. On the other hand, those governing the City who possess wealth and knowledge but are devoid of virtue, will simply abuse their force and authority, corrupt the citizenry and tyrannise society.