Social Contract Theory Assignment
You are a colonist in America during the 1700s and you work for the Colonial Gazette
newspaper. You have come across some startling news about new political ideas emerging from
Europe. This intrigues you, so you have given yourself an assignment to compose a letter to the
newspaper’s editor:
After reading and analyzing the textbook, the academic articles, and the famous Enlightenment
quotes, write a brief opinion piece that discusses the social contract theory according to John
Locke and Thomas Hobbes. Explain which political philosopher you agree with more and
support your position with evidence from the texts. Be sure to acknowledge competing views.
Ideas on how to organize your opinion piece:
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Describe what the term “social contract” means
Identify the philosopher whose theories about the social contract you agree with more
Describe one idea of the philosopher that you agree with
Contrast that idea with the theories of the other thinker
Describe a second idea of the philosopher that you agree with
Contrast that idea with the theories of the other thinker
Draw a conclusion about why you agree more with one of the thinker’s ideas than the
others
Ideas on how to start your letter to the editor:
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“Dear editor,
I have just become aware of the social contract theory, a new political idea that
has the support of thinkers such as John Locke and Thomas Hobbes…”
“Dear editor,
British colonists should know of the new social contract theory that says…”
“Dear editor,
There is a movement arising in Europe behind a political idea called the social
contract theory…”