The Social Contract
Mr. Henrichsen
The Big 3
Hobbes
Locke
Rousseau
Thomas Hobbes 1588-1679
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 1632-1704
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 17121778
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?