Review: Social Contract Theory Important Concepts: * State of Nature * Civil Society * Social Contract Important Names: * Thomas Hobbes (see Lualdi, p. 65) * John Locke (see Lualdi, p ) Jean-Jacques Rousseau “My purpose is to consider if, in political society, there can be any legitimate and sure principle of government, taking men as they are and laws as they might be.” (opening line from The Social Contract)

Rousseau’s Discourse on the Origin of Inequality: Three Main Topics State of Nature vs Civil Society: Origin of Inequality: Origin and justification of government:

Rousseau’s Discourse on the Origin of Inequality State of Nature vs Civil Society: * Ignorance of vice vs knowledge of virtue * Primitive needs vs civilized needs * Natural pity(argument, “therefore”) * [Concept: noble savage]

The ‘Noble Savage’ in Popular Movies

Rousseau’s Discourse on the Origin of Inequality Origin and justification of government: * Establishment of private property * Early society as a “middle position” * The social contract * The “fundamental maxim of all political right” * The morality of revolution

Rousseau’s Discourse on the Origin of Inequality Origin of Inequality: * Inequality impossible in the state of nature (Why?) * Three stages (property, government, despotism) * Existing inequalities unjustified (Why?)

Rousseau’s Discourse on the Origin of Inequality: Three Main Topics State of Nature vs Civil Society: * Ignorance of vice vs knowledge of virtue * Primitive needs vs civilized needs * Natural pity(argument, “therefore”) * [Concept: noble savage] Origin of Inequality: * Inequality impossible in the state of nature (Why?) * Three stages (property, government, despotism) * Existing inequalities unjustified (Why?) Origin and justification of government: * Establishment of private property * Early society as a “middle position” * The social contract * The “fundamental maxim of all political right” * The morality of revolution

Reading Questions for the Declaration of Independence, Bentham’s “Short Review,” and the Bill of Rights (CP: p. 1-13) As Bentham says in his “Short Review,” the Declaration of Independence begins by trying to establish a “theory of Government.” What is that theory of government? (That is, what is the legitimate purpose of government, and what is the legitimate source of government power?) How does the Declaration use this theory of government to provide a justification for revolution? How does Bentham criticize this theory of government? How could the signers of the Declaration respond to those criticisms? What do you think? What are the four “distinct heads” under which Bentham groups the specific charges against the British crown, and how does he respond to them? Do you find his responses persuasive? How do the rights established in the Bill of Rights connect to the theory of government defended in the Declaration?