1. The New Science of Politics
Thomas Hobbes & the Social Contract

2. The Social Contract Leave State of Nature Enter State of Society
Give up the Absolute Right of Property
As long as others are willing to do the same
Everyone lays down this right for security
In order to establish society
The Social Contract is not Government.
Prior to any government a society must exist
No society without the social contract

3. But is the Social Contract Secure?
Mutual distrust may lead the social contract to collapse
Social Contract must be enforced
Parties in the Social Contract agree to a mechanism of enforcement:
But is the Social Contract Secure?

4. The Sovereign Sovereigns are not rulers Sovereign Subjects However
A product of the Social Contract (in fact, the first product of society)
Government not possible without a sovereign
A Sovereign may be one, few or many
Hobbes’ sovereign resembles a ruler
Sovereigns are not rulers (except over themselves)

5. What’s the Difference? Sovereign v. Ruler Gives order to the community
Bound only by the telos of the community
Governs according to ruler’s conception of the good of the community
Limited by one’s own ethos; may be virtuous or defective
Inequality with ruled a result of the ruler’s nature
Cannot be replaced unless the ruler so orders. Otherwise the community is changed or destroyed
First product of orders of the Social Contract
Bound by the terms of the Social Contract
Governs according to the needs of the Social Contract
Limited by duty to enforce the Social Contract
Inequality with subjects a result of society’s demand for security
May be replaced by another if the sovereign fails to enforce the Social Contract
What’s the Difference?

6. So, to Summarize Hobbes Human beings are alike in their nature
Human nature is best seen in the absence of society
State of Nature so bad, so dangerous that we must leave it to form societies
Societies depend on a social contract among its members
Terms of Hobbes’ social contract: exchange rights for security
Sovereigns established by societies to enforce the social contract
Sovereigns don’t make the social contract
Sovereigns limited by the needs of the social contract
Sovereigns may be replaced when they fail to enforce the social contract.