social contract and political theory thinkers

• Some of Hobbes' works


  • The Elements of Law (1640)
  • On the Citizen (1642)
  • Leviathan (1651)
• Thomas Hobbes


  • famously known as the Founding Father of Modern Political Theories due to his scientific and rational approach in the formulation of political theories
  • has been one of the first philosophers to apply the principles of Psychological Egoism (theory that humans are naturally self-interested and are motivated by their desire to fulfill their own needs and desires)
  • He also has a theory about Social Contract (theory stating about individuals agreeing to give up their natural right to do anything they please in exchange for protection and security) based on the State of Nature
• State of Nature


  a human condition before the establishment of society or government. A condition where there is no government or laws. People live in fear because there are no rules protecting them. It's a "war against all"- you are responsible for protecting your own life. In this people would do anything even by means of harming others or even killing others to protect themselves from other humans
• Hobbes described the state of nature as "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short"
• Human nature


  those individuals are naturally self-interested, in which they are driven by their desires to fulfill their personal needs and desires. And through that, human beings compete with each other to acquire the things that they need
• Humans are selfish, and so, without the laws to restrain him, he will do whatever he needs to without even thinking the means just to sustain his own life
• Social Contract


  It is an implicit agreement among the members of a society to cooperate for social benefits. It is sacrificing some of your freedom in exchange for something else. For example, I agree not to harm or kill others for as long as they do the same for me too
• Hobbes' Social Contract Theory

  • His social contract theory was based on the idea that human beings entered into an unwritten agreement with each other to escape from this warlike state of nature. This is what he referred to as the social contract
  • For him, social contract was necessary to allow society to flourish
  • Without the social contract, humans could never move past the simple day to day search for food and survival
  • There would be no reason to develop agriculture or industry, because your hard work could just be taken from you by someone else
  • Thomas Hobbes's social contract's definition was based on what he thought was the logical arrangement humans would make to escape this state of nature
  • Thomas Hobbes's social contract is giving up complete freedom to do whatever you want in exchange for security. This allows you to live your life, develop your talents, acquire wealth, or simply eat your lunch, without having to constantly look over your soldier worrying someone will take it from you
• According to Hobbes, because everyone's primary motive is selfishness (as Hobbes thinks), such a contract will inevitably be broken unless it is somehow enforced
• This is the beginning of government. For example, in our current society, we give up tax money, we abide laws and regulations because there are authorities who guides our actions, they imposes limitations on every individual's actions
• What legitimizes the government's authority over the governed?

  Our CONSENT
• Hobbes' claim is that we are obligated to obey the governing rulers because we have a CONTRACT with them; we are obligated to hold up our end of that contract because we have CONSENTED to do
• Leviathan


  • a sea monster defeated by Yahweh in various scriptural accounts. It was based on the biblical accounts of a monster called Leviathan which is a symbolic illustration of a powerful entity that rules the society
  • In the book, the Leviathan is the sovereign who exercises rule over the society
  • In it, he argues people give up their freedom and submit to the power of a government, or what he called a sovereign, to rule them in order to escape the state of nature
  • He also discusses in this book about the need for a powerful sovereign authority to maintain order and to prevent the return of the state of nature
  • Also, the role of government and sovereignty in a society
  • Through this book, it is where he expressed his ideas about the social contract theory
  • And this book serves as justification of his principles with regards to social contract theory
• Thomas Hobbes main point in his theory is all about giving up complete freedom to the sovereign in exchange for security
• Thomas Hobbes' point is if we agree to have to some sort of social contract, the damage, conflicts and chaos might be minimized
• Jean-Jacques Rousseau


  • was a multifaceted individual, contributing as a philosopher, writer, and composer. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Rousseau was not formally educated in a traditional academic sense, which perhaps allowed him to approach philosophical questions from a unique perspective. His ideas signalled the end of the Enlightenment, a period also known as the "Age of Reason," by challenging established norms and advocating for a return to a more natural state of human existence
  • Initially training to become a Christian priest, Rousseau later explored various professions, including that of a musician, copyist, and teacher. These diverse experiences enriched his understanding of society and human nature, eventually culminating in his influential writings
• The Social Contract


  • Rousseau's "The Social Contract," published in 1762, begins with the provocative statement, "Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains." This declaration embodies Rousseau's belief that while humans are naturally free, societal structures constrain their inherent liberty. In this work, Rousseau explores how individuals can coexist within a society without sacrificing their fundamental freedoms
  • Central to Rousseau's theory is the concept of the general will. He argues that in order to maintain freedom, individuals must collectively submit to the general will, which represents the collective interests of the people. According to Rousseau, laws should emanate from the general will, ensuring they reflect the true interests of the populace. In this way, individuals surrender their natural rights in exchange for civil rights, which are more suitable for life in an organized society
• The State of Nature

  Rousseau's view of the state of nature contrasts sharply with those of other philosophers like Thomas Hobbes and John Locke. While Hobbes described the state of nature as "nasty, brutish, and short," Rousseau envisioned it as a time when humans lived solitary, peaceful, and uncomplicated lives. He introduced the concept of humans as noble savages, inherently good and compassionate, but corrupted by the advent of private property and societal development. Rousseau did not condemn society outright but criticized the direction it had taken, leading to competition, inequality, and conflict
• The Social Contract as a Solution

  To address the problems brought about by societal development, Rousseau proposed the social contract. This theoretical agreement forms the basis of a legitimate political authority, where individuals come together to form a collective body politic. By agreeing to common rules and mutual responsibilities, people create a society that balances individual freedoms with collective well-being
• The General Will


  A cornerstone of Rousseau's theory is the general will, which transcends individual desires and aims at the common good. It is not merely the sum of individual wills but a unified will that considers what is best for the community as a whole. Rousseau believed that laws and policies should reflect the general will, ensuring they serve the collective interests of society
• Sovereignty and Governance


  Rousseau asserted that true sovereignty lies with the people, and the general will is the expression of this sovereignty. For a government to be legitimate, it must embody the general will, deriving its authority from the consent of the governed. He emphasized that sovereignty cannot be alienated or delegated; it must remain with the people. This principle is foundational to modern democratic systems, where the power to make laws rests with citizens directly or through their representatives
• Freedom and Equality


  Balancing freedom and equality within society was a primary concern for Rousseau. He argued that individuals could achieve true freedom through participation in the collective decision-making process, as they are both the authors and subjects of the laws. Obedience to the law, in this sense, is an act of freedom, as individuals follow rules, they have prescribed for themselves. Moreover, laws aligned with the general will promote equality among citizens, counteracting the inequalities produced by private interests
• Rousseau's social contract theory has faced various criticisms. Some argue that the concept of the general will is vague and can potentially justify the suppression of minority views in favor of the majority. Others point out the tension between individual freedom and collective decision-making. Despite these criticisms, Rousseau's ideas have profoundly influenced political thought, inspiring revolutionary movements like the French Revolution and contributing to the development of democratic ideals and human rights
• Two Treatise on Government

  • Locke's "Two Treatises on Government" contains his most significant political writings. The first treatise refutes Robert Filmer's "Patriarcha," which advocated for political authority derived from religious authority or the Divine Right of Kings, a prevailing theory in seventeenth-century England. The second treatise, titled "An Essay Concerning the True Original Extent and End of Civil Government," presents Locke's views on the aims and justification for civil government
  • Locke's conceptualization of the state of nature contrasts sharply with Thomas Hobbes'. While Hobbes viewed the state of nature as a brutal and intolerable condition necessitating absolute authority, Locke saw it as a state of perfect liberty governed by natural law. In Locke's view, humans are free, equal, and independent but are obliged under natural law to respect each other's rights to life, liberty, and property. The state of nature, therefore, is not pre-moral but pre-political, marked by an inherent moral order given by God
  • Locke argued that civil government is formed when individuals consent to surrender their executive power to punish transgressors to a public authority. This agreement creates a political society where the majority's will governs. In forming such a society, individuals gain the benefits of laws, judges, and an executive power to enforce these laws, which were absent in the state of nature
• Property


  Property plays a crucial role in Locke's argument for civil government
• State of nature


  Contrasts sharply with Thomas Hobbes' view - Locke saw it as a state of perfect liberty governed by natural law, not a brutal and intolerable condition
• Locke's view of the state of nature


  • Humans are free, equal, and independent but are obliged under natural law to respect each other's rights to life, liberty, and property
  • It is pre-political, marked by an inherent moral order given by God
• Formation of civil government

  1. Individuals consent to surrender their executive power to punish transgressors to a public authority

  2. This agreement creates a political society where the majority's will governs
• Property


  • Private property is created when an individual mixes their labor with natural resources
  • Locke imposed limits on property ownership, arguing that one should not take more from nature than one can use, ensuring enough remains for others
• Conditions for dissolving the social contract

  • If a government, particularly its executive power, becomes tyrannical, such as by dissolving the legislature and acting against the people's interests, the people have the right to resist
• Locke's views on human nature and morality

  Significantly differ from Hobbes', leading to divergent theories on the social contract
• Locke's ideas profoundly influenced subsequent democratic revolutions, particularly in shaping the political philosophy of the founders of the United States, including Thomas Jefferson
• Edmund Burke's concept of social contract


  Society was a contract between the living, dead, and unborn
• Key elements of Burke's definition of social contract

  • Historical continuity - rooted in historical traditions and practices
  • Organic society - evolves naturally rather than being artificially constructed
  • Moral and social order - encompasses moral obligations individuals owe to each other and society
  • Critique of radical change - argued against the abrupt transformations proposed by the French Revolution
• The French Revolution occurred from 1789 to 1799, a period of major societal and political upheaval in France
• The main core idea of the French Revolution was liberty, equality, and fraternity
• King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette


  • The last King and Queen of France
  • King Louis XVI was spending half of his national budget to service the Federal debt
  • The National Convention found King Louis XVI guilty of treason in 1792 and beheaded him by guillotine in January 1793
• Causes of the French Revolution


  • Social inequality - France was divided into three estates with the Third Estate having the least power and paying most of the taxes
  • Economic hardships - financial crisis, involvement in the American Revolution, and poor harvests
  • Enlightenment ideas - philosophers like Voltaire, Rousseau, and Montesquieu criticized the existing social and political structures
• Edmund Burke's "Reflections on the Revolution in France"


  • Published in 1790, one of the most significant works of political philosophy and a foundational text for modern conservatism
  • Burke wrote it as a response to a request from a young Frenchman, Charles-Jean-François Depont, who sought Burke's thoughts on the French Revolution
• The Glorious Revolution


  • England's Revolution in 1688-1689, the peaceful way in which parliament asserted its rights over the monarchy
  • Burke viewed it as a conservative restoration and reassertion of constitutional principles, not a radical overthrow