The Social Contract Mr. Henrichsen

The Big 3 Hobbes Locke Rousseau

Thomas Hobbes English political philosopher who felt that the state of nature for humanity was “short, brutish, and nasty.” In his book Leviathan, Hobbes compared government to a large monster created by the people to safeguard the security of the people. Regardless of how bad the monster became, Hobbes felt that the life associated was better than life without a king.

Hobbes cont’ Hobbes also felt that the people never had the right to revolt against the leader of their country. This is because the end result would be a civil war, thus leading to the state of nature and anarchy and a loss of all rights gained by the society.

John Locke Locke studied the ideas published by Hobbes and agreed that a social contract was what justified a system of government. However, Locke felt that the state of nature was a better place than described by Hobbes. Further, Locke felt that the purpose of government was to guarantee the rights of the people. As a contract then it could be renegotiated as needed for the people to ensure that the government fulfilled its duties to the people.

Locke’s Freedoms Right to hold and own property Freedom of speech Freedom of worship Give government only those powers needed Right to break the social contract and reform

Jean-Jacques Rousseau Rousseau felt that the previous incarnations of the social contract excluded the non property classes and women. He felt that both of these groups should have a viable voice in government. He also added to the contract that the only laws that should be followed are the laws the people make for themselves.

Questions 1. What does the state of nature mean? How do the different theorists approach it? 2. What is a “social contract?” 3. Who had more power in Hobbes’ contract, the people or the government? 4. Which group did Locke’s contract favor? 5. Who did Rousseau feel should have a voice in government? 6. What document from the founders most closely resembles the social contract? Why? 7. Whose aspect of the social contract is the most valid today and why?