THE SOCIAL CONTRACT
Hobbes & Locke
“If men were angels, no government would be necessary.”
James Madison
ENLIGHTENMENT MUCH?
 The STATE OF NATURE, NATURAL RIGHTS (& Natural
Law)
STATE OF NATURE “hypothetical condition of what the lives of people might have
been like before societies came into existence”
LIFE Everyone is entitled to live once they are created.
LIBERTY Everyone is entitled to do anything they want to so long as it
doesn't conflict with another’s right to life.
PROPERTY Everyone is entitled to own all they create or gain
through gift or trade so long as it doesn't conflict with another’s right
to life & liberty!
Many of the ENLIGHTENMENT ideas of LOCKE, Hobbes, Rousseau & Montesquieu would go on
to influence American Revolutionaries as well as the Framers of the U.S. Constitution!
HOBBES & LOCKE
…on the STATE OF NATURE – EQUALITY REIGNS, BUT…
THOMAS HOBBES
HUMANS ARE GUIDED BY SELFPRESERVATION! AND…
 The STATE OF NATURE is a
state of war.
“The life of man is “solitary, poor, nasty,
brutish, and short.”
JOHN LOCKE
THE STATE OF NATURE IS NOT
GOOD OR BAD – IT IS CHAOTIC,
CORRUPTING (MOSTLY PEACEFUL).
 Men exist in the STATE OF
NATURE in equality and
freedom to do what they want.
NATURAL RIGHTS and NATURAL LAW govern
the State of Nature
HOBBES & LOCKE
…& the process behind the SOCIAL CONTRACT
State of
Nature!
Natural
Rights
Infringed…
Individuals
Come
Together…
Enter into
the SOCIAL
CONTRACT
…with philosophical differences
between LOCKE & HOBBES!
…give up some rights for the
protection of others!
LONG-STORY SHORT – TL;DR VERSION OF THE…
“WHY GOVERNMENT?”
HOBBES & LOCKE
…on the PURPOSE & TYPE GOVERNMENT
THOMAS HOBBES
JOHN LOCKE
…IMPOSE LAW AND ORDER, TO
PREVENT THE STATE OF WAR.
 ABSOLUTE MONARCHY (people
…TO SECURE NATURAL RIGHTS.
 REPRESENTATIVE
DEMOCRACY (create government
agreed to be governed by an
absolute ruler who had unlimited
power to suppress chaos and
rebellion)
…the STATE was the “great leviathan to
which we owe our peace and defense.”
to ensure that their natural rights are
protected)
 CONSENT OF THE GOVERNED
“The end of law is not to abolish or restrain,
but to preserve and enlarge freedom…
where there is no law, there is no freedom.”
“What does CONSENT OF THE GOVERNED mean?”
…a government’s use of power is justified and can only be legitimate if the PEOPLE
give their consent to be governed!
Thomas Hobbes & John Locke – “Who Would Agree?”
A MINI-QUIZ!
“There are no laws in the state of nature and people are constantly at war with one another.”
“Government is needed to create laws, protect people and provide services for society.”
“Government exists to protect the life, liberty and private property
of individuals throughout society.”
“A ruler should be an individual who has complete power and
should not be overthrown if society is unhappy.”
“The only legitimate government is one that fully represents the best interests of society.”
“If a government fails to accurately represent the people, the
people have the right to overthrow and ‘reset’ that government.”
“A single sovereign is the best form of government for protection of the individual.”
“Governments must be designed to protect the people from themselves.”
“Governments must secure the Natural Rights that were given to them by God.”
THOMAS HOBBES & JOHN LOCKE
INTRODUCTION Who were these dudes?
SUMMARY
HOBBES: SON was BAD!
State of war – LEAD TO…
“WHY GOVERNMENT?”
SUMMARY
LOCKE: SON wasn’t
THAT BAD! Conflict was
inevitable – LEAD TO…
HOBBES & LOCKE
…on the STATE OF NATURE – EQUALITY REIGNS, BUT…
“WHY GOVERNMENT?”
SUMMARY
LOCKE: …was ON POINT!
HOBBES & LOCKE
…& the SOCIAL CONTRACT
“WHY GOVERNMENT?”
“POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY”
HOBBES & LOCKE
…on the GOVERNMENT