John C. Wright makes an observation that is not insignificant in relation to last week’s debate on the meaning of Posterity:
The effect of the Magna Carta on later charters of rights, on the Glorious Revolution, and on the Bill of Rights of the American Revolution should be known to all educated citizens in America.
To say nothing of its effect on the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution. Does this sound familiar?
We have granted to God, and by this our present Charter have confirmed, for Us and our Heirs for ever, that the Church of England shall be free, and shall have all her whole Rights and Liberties inviolable. We have granted also, and given to all the Freemen of our Realm, for Us and our Heirs for ever, these Liberties under-written, to have and to hold to them and their Heirs, of Us and our Heirs for ever.
Keeping in mind that the American Revolution was fought to preserve and protect the Rights of Englishmen, which of the three alternative definitions of “Posterity” most accurately represents the term used in the phrase “ourselves and our Posterity” in light of this section of the Magna Carta?
- actual legal descendants and heirs
- succeeding generations living within the same geographic boundaries
- later times