Prigimtinės tvarkos idėja kaip Mykolo Pranciškaus Karpavičiaus politinio mąstymo pagrindas
Authors: Mačkinis Vilius 
Published: February 2022

IDEA OF NATURAL ORDER AS A BASIS FOR POLITICAL THINKING IN THE SERMONS OF MYKOLAS PRANCIŠKUS KARPAVIČIUS

Analysis of the idea of natural order in the sermons of Mykolas Pranciškus
Karpavičius (Michał Franciszek Karpowicz, 1744–1803) is presented in the
article.
M. P. Karpavičius in his sermons elucidated societal relations emphasising
natural law. In his teachings social state was understood as an outcome of a divine
organisation and meant that a human being – a social member of the society, with
a gift of natural reason – has to make decisions that create his wellbeing. Such an
explication where society is attributed to natural order was a main pillar upon
which his political thought rested. It encompassed the goal of the upbringing of
a rational and reasonable individual, which by itself connected aspects of both
religious and secular life.
M. P. Karpavičius’ sermons have to be understood in the context of physiocratic
political tradition, which accentuated the preference of the nation through
its natural rights and liberties which require the political contract in order to
achieve security and safety of one’s property. Following the reasoning that social
condition stems from the natural order, M. P. Karpavičius upheld the physiocratic
ideals while naming the principles of authority. According to him, authority is
needed to ensure security, prosperity and justice of the society. Being a Catholic
enlightener he emphasised that the main task of any government, no matter its
form, is to protect the natural rights. In its essence this argument remains physiocratic,
emphasising the basic tenets of life, property and justice.
Accentuating the natural order and Christian values, he taught that duties
accepted as upheld laws are a continuation of the natural order and natural condition
stemming from citizen’s obligations related to the established society. In the
sphere of political thinking this allowed to emphasise the nobility’s obligations
towards the body politic as an inherent part of their citizenship, and at the same
time depreciate their political privileges.
Out of the principles of the natural order consistently followed the concept
of natural liberty, which allowed the implementation of the functions of natural
right. This concept of liberty together with directions to uphold laws and societal
duties directly influenced the understanding of noble liberty, because enlightened
teaching encouraged to rethink its limits. M. P. Karpavičius emphasised differences
between rational liberty and licence, explaining that reasonable liberty in the enlightened
society has to be restricted. Natural liberty was understood as a liberty
limited by the law ensuring political existence of the nation. The guarantee of such
liberty assured the security of justice and law abiding citizens. Licence and anarchy
were presented as opposition to the interests of the state and society leading the
state to a demise. Antithesis to licence and anarchy relied on a simple argument
of aspiration to have order in the state and was elucidated as rational liberty.
Universal education was understood as an instrument in upbringing of the
civil society, which understands the limits of its freedom and its duties. Meaning
of such a concept of citizenship manifested itself as a rational reflection of the civic
existence. It emphasised the principles of natural order and civic duties, criticised
licence and established an idea of rational liberty. Supporting such a concept M.
P. Karpavičius emphased citizenship as engagement towards the state and God.
Such understanding was connected to the goals of state prosperity, was named
love of motherland and was traced not to the noble heritage, but to duties stemming
from the natural order. Being a citizen meant upholding one’s duties and in
this way securing one’s life, liberty and prosperity. Civic relationship stemming
from nature was understood as the only incentive needed in order to uphold the
relationship itself.
Sermons by M. P. Karpavičius can be identified as a local programme for
citizen upbringing emphasizing goals of state prosperity. Emphasis on citizenship
was directed towards foundation of the will of the nation, understood as
a common and public matter. The upbringing of citizens was understood as an
inseparable part of the teaching on how to be a proper nation. It was a goal to
change individuals that think only about their own wellbeing into citizens that
care about the common good.

Keywords: Michał Franciszek Karpowicz, natural order, social state, liberty,
citizenship.