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THE SOCIAL THE SOCIAL CONTRACT CONTRACT POLITICAL PHILOSOPHERS POLITICAL PHILOSOPHERS 101 101
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THE SOCIAL CONTRACT POLITICAL PHILOSOPHERS 101. PHILOSOPHERS Thomas Hobbes Thomas Hobbes John Locke John Locke Baron de Montesquieu Baron de Montesquieu.

Mar 29, 2015

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Page 1: THE SOCIAL CONTRACT POLITICAL PHILOSOPHERS 101. PHILOSOPHERS Thomas Hobbes Thomas Hobbes John Locke John Locke Baron de Montesquieu Baron de Montesquieu.

THE SOCIAL THE SOCIAL CONTRACTCONTRACT

POLITICAL PHILOSOPHERS 101POLITICAL PHILOSOPHERS 101

Page 2: THE SOCIAL CONTRACT POLITICAL PHILOSOPHERS 101. PHILOSOPHERS Thomas Hobbes Thomas Hobbes John Locke John Locke Baron de Montesquieu Baron de Montesquieu.

PHILOSOPHERSPHILOSOPHERS

Thomas HobbesThomas Hobbes John LockeJohn Locke Baron de MontesquieuBaron de Montesquieu Jean-Jacques RousseauJean-Jacques Rousseau Thomas PaineThomas Paine

Page 3: THE SOCIAL CONTRACT POLITICAL PHILOSOPHERS 101. PHILOSOPHERS Thomas Hobbes Thomas Hobbes John Locke John Locke Baron de Montesquieu Baron de Montesquieu.

HOBBESHOBBES

English philosopher who English philosopher who stressed governmental stressed governmental power as seen in power as seen in “Leviathan”, his major “Leviathan”, his major work.work.

Sovereign’s power should Sovereign’s power should be unlimited.be unlimited.

The The STATE STATE originated in a originated in a “social contract”.“social contract”.

Individuals protected from Individuals protected from “brutish” instincts.“brutish” instincts.

Page 4: THE SOCIAL CONTRACT POLITICAL PHILOSOPHERS 101. PHILOSOPHERS Thomas Hobbes Thomas Hobbes John Locke John Locke Baron de Montesquieu Baron de Montesquieu.
Page 5: THE SOCIAL CONTRACT POLITICAL PHILOSOPHERS 101. PHILOSOPHERS Thomas Hobbes Thomas Hobbes John Locke John Locke Baron de Montesquieu Baron de Montesquieu.

LEVIATHANLEVIATHAN(1651)(1651)

Imaginary “state of nature”, in which people live Imaginary “state of nature”, in which people live without government.without government.

People would be in constant war with one another.People would be in constant war with one another. People would be free to do what they wanted, but People would be free to do what they wanted, but

nobody could enjoy this freedom because others nobody could enjoy this freedom because others would have the right to trample those very would have the right to trample those very freedoms.freedoms.

All citizens agree to obey a single power that is All citizens agree to obey a single power that is strong enough to force everyone to follow the rules strong enough to force everyone to follow the rules and live in peace.and live in peace.

This grants the sovereign absolute power.This grants the sovereign absolute power.

Page 6: THE SOCIAL CONTRACT POLITICAL PHILOSOPHERS 101. PHILOSOPHERS Thomas Hobbes Thomas Hobbes John Locke John Locke Baron de Montesquieu Baron de Montesquieu.

JOHN LOCKEJOHN LOCKE

English philosopher English philosopher who accepted and who accepted and revised the social revised the social contract theory.contract theory.

A major influence to A major influence to the Declaration of the Declaration of Independence and Independence and The Federalist.The Federalist.

Page 7: THE SOCIAL CONTRACT POLITICAL PHILOSOPHERS 101. PHILOSOPHERS Thomas Hobbes Thomas Hobbes John Locke John Locke Baron de Montesquieu Baron de Montesquieu.

TWO TREATISES OF TWO TREATISES OF GOVERNMENT (1690)GOVERNMENT (1690)

Attacks the theory of divine right of kings and the Attacks the theory of divine right of kings and the nature of the state by Hobbes.nature of the state by Hobbes.

Sovereignty did not reside in the state but with the Sovereignty did not reside in the state but with the people.people.

The state is supreme, but only if it is bound by civil The state is supreme, but only if it is bound by civil and “natural” law.and “natural” law.

Many of Locke’s political ideas about natural Many of Locke’s political ideas about natural rights, property rights, the duty of government to rights, property rights, the duty of government to protect those rights, and the rule of the majority protect those rights, and the rule of the majority were later embodied in the Constitution. were later embodied in the Constitution.

Page 8: THE SOCIAL CONTRACT POLITICAL PHILOSOPHERS 101. PHILOSOPHERS Thomas Hobbes Thomas Hobbes John Locke John Locke Baron de Montesquieu Baron de Montesquieu.

Revolution is not only a right, but an obligation.Revolution is not only a right, but an obligation.

Page 9: THE SOCIAL CONTRACT POLITICAL PHILOSOPHERS 101. PHILOSOPHERS Thomas Hobbes Thomas Hobbes John Locke John Locke Baron de Montesquieu Baron de Montesquieu.

He advocated a system of He advocated a system of checks and balances.checks and balances.

Government should be Government should be comprised of three comprised of three branches, of which the branches, of which the legislative is more powerful legislative is more powerful than the executive or than the executive or judicial.judicial.

He also believed in He also believed in religious freedom, the religious freedom, the separation of church and separation of church and state, and the right to state, and the right to unionize.unionize.

Page 10: THE SOCIAL CONTRACT POLITICAL PHILOSOPHERS 101. PHILOSOPHERS Thomas Hobbes Thomas Hobbes John Locke John Locke Baron de Montesquieu Baron de Montesquieu.

BARON de MONTESQUIEUBARON de MONTESQUIEU(1689-1755)(1689-1755)

Page 11: THE SOCIAL CONTRACT POLITICAL PHILOSOPHERS 101. PHILOSOPHERS Thomas Hobbes Thomas Hobbes John Locke John Locke Baron de Montesquieu Baron de Montesquieu.

French political philosopher who argued for a French political philosopher who argued for a separation of governmental powers into executive, separation of governmental powers into executive, judicial, and legislative bodies.judicial, and legislative bodies.

Abuse of power, slavery, and intolerance were Abuse of power, slavery, and intolerance were evil.evil.

Government can avoid these evils by separating Government can avoid these evils by separating power, by governing with honor rather than power, by governing with honor rather than through fear, and by upholding human dignity.through fear, and by upholding human dignity.

His ideas inspired our Constitution and France’s His ideas inspired our Constitution and France’s Declaration of the Rights of Man.Declaration of the Rights of Man.

Page 12: THE SOCIAL CONTRACT POLITICAL PHILOSOPHERS 101. PHILOSOPHERS Thomas Hobbes Thomas Hobbes John Locke John Locke Baron de Montesquieu Baron de Montesquieu.

Jean-Jacques RousseauJean-Jacques Rousseau(1712-78) (1712-78)

Page 13: THE SOCIAL CONTRACT POLITICAL PHILOSOPHERS 101. PHILOSOPHERS Thomas Hobbes Thomas Hobbes John Locke John Locke Baron de Montesquieu Baron de Montesquieu.

Science, art, and social Science, art, and social institutions have corrupted institutions have corrupted humankind.humankind.

The natural, or primitive, The natural, or primitive, state is morally superior to state is morally superior to the civilized state.the civilized state.

He defended the popular will He defended the popular will against divine right.against divine right.

In “Emile” he believed In “Emile” he believed education should be focused education should be focused upon expression, not upon expression, not repression in order to repression in order to produce a well-balanced, produce a well-balanced, freethinking child. freethinking child.

Page 14: THE SOCIAL CONTRACT POLITICAL PHILOSOPHERS 101. PHILOSOPHERS Thomas Hobbes Thomas Hobbes John Locke John Locke Baron de Montesquieu Baron de Montesquieu.

ROUSSEAU’S SOCIAL ROUSSEAU’S SOCIAL CONTRACTCONTRACT

There is a social contract but that it supported an There is a social contract but that it supported an unlimited government subject to democratic unlimited government subject to democratic control.control.

Combines absolutism with democracy.Combines absolutism with democracy. If government is necessary, then only consent If government is necessary, then only consent

could make government legitimate.could make government legitimate. But the government cannot have only limited But the government cannot have only limited

powers, because who defines limits then?powers, because who defines limits then? Government actions should be guided by the Government actions should be guided by the

“general will”. Or, majority vote.“general will”. Or, majority vote.

Page 15: THE SOCIAL CONTRACT POLITICAL PHILOSOPHERS 101. PHILOSOPHERS Thomas Hobbes Thomas Hobbes John Locke John Locke Baron de Montesquieu Baron de Montesquieu.

THOMAS PAINETHOMAS PAINE(1703-1809)(1703-1809)

Page 16: THE SOCIAL CONTRACT POLITICAL PHILOSOPHERS 101. PHILOSOPHERS Thomas Hobbes Thomas Hobbes John Locke John Locke Baron de Montesquieu Baron de Montesquieu.

COMMON SENSECOMMON SENSE

On January 10, 1776 he On January 10, 1776 he published his most published his most important work, “Common important work, “Common Sense”, a pamphlet that Sense”, a pamphlet that asserted that Great Britain asserted that Great Britain was exploiting the was exploiting the American colonies.American colonies.

It was just common sense It was just common sense to become independent to become independent and establish their own and establish their own republican form of republican form of government. government.

Page 17: THE SOCIAL CONTRACT POLITICAL PHILOSOPHERS 101. PHILOSOPHERS Thomas Hobbes Thomas Hobbes John Locke John Locke Baron de Montesquieu Baron de Montesquieu.

WHO SAID IT?WHO SAID IT?

Parents wonder why the streams are bitter, when Parents wonder why the streams are bitter, when they themselves have poisoned the fountain.they themselves have poisoned the fountain.

In the state of nature…all men are born equal, but In the state of nature…all men are born equal, but they cannot continue in this equality. Society they cannot continue in this equality. Society makes them lose it, and they recover it only by the makes them lose it, and they recover it only by the protection of the law.protection of the law.

Reputation is what men and women think of us; Reputation is what men and women think of us; character is what God and angels know of us.character is what God and angels know of us.

Words are the money of fools.Words are the money of fools. Man was born free, and everywhere he is in Man was born free, and everywhere he is in

chains.chains.

Page 18: THE SOCIAL CONTRACT POLITICAL PHILOSOPHERS 101. PHILOSOPHERS Thomas Hobbes Thomas Hobbes John Locke John Locke Baron de Montesquieu Baron de Montesquieu.

John LockeJohn Locke Baron Charles de MontesquieuBaron Charles de Montesquieu Thomas PaineThomas Paine Thomas HobbesThomas Hobbes Jean-Jacques RousseauJean-Jacques Rousseau

Page 19: THE SOCIAL CONTRACT POLITICAL PHILOSOPHERS 101. PHILOSOPHERS Thomas Hobbes Thomas Hobbes John Locke John Locke Baron de Montesquieu Baron de Montesquieu.

FINAL THOUGHTSFINAL THOUGHTS

Thus, social contract theory basically states Thus, social contract theory basically states that in order to live in a society, humans that in order to live in a society, humans agree to a social contract. They sacrifice agree to a social contract. They sacrifice some freedoms in order to obtain certain some freedoms in order to obtain certain rights. The state is created in order to rights. The state is created in order to enforce the contract.enforce the contract.

What freedoms would you surrender and What freedoms would you surrender and which rights would you demand in return?which rights would you demand in return?

Page 20: THE SOCIAL CONTRACT POLITICAL PHILOSOPHERS 101. PHILOSOPHERS Thomas Hobbes Thomas Hobbes John Locke John Locke Baron de Montesquieu Baron de Montesquieu.

THE ENDTHE END