ABSTRACT
Withrespecttothatpartofaperson'slifewhich'merely concernshimself,hisindependenceis,ofright,absolute. Overhimself,overhisownbodyandmind,theindividualis sovereign.' 2Insertedintothisstatementofprincipleisa crucialqualification,namely,thatindependencerightfully belongsonlytomembersofa'civilised'community.Andso, intheverynextparagraphhealmostcasuallyobservesthat
itishardlynecessarytosaythatthis doctrineismeanttoapplyonJytohuman beingsinthematurityoftheirfaculties. \vearenotspeakingofchildren,orofyoung personsbelowtheagewhichthelawmayfix asthatofmanhoodorwomanhood.~hosewho arestillinastatetorequirebeingtaken careofbyothers,mustbeprotectedagainst theirownactionsaswenasagainstexternal injury.3