Social Contract Theory Social contract theory‚ nearly as old as philosophy itself‚ is the view that persons’ moral and/or political obligations are dependent upon a contract or agreement among them to form the society in which they live. Socrates uses something quite like a social contract argument to explain to Crito why he must remain in prison and accept the death penalty. However‚ social contract theory is rightly associated with modern moral and political theory and is given its first full
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Social Contract Theory Amber C. Brown AJS/532 September 2‚ 2013 Cyril Vierra Social Contract Theory The social contract theory was one that emerged in response to human enlightenment and civic awareness (Souryal‚ 2007). The theory was based on the belief that natural human existence without a binding contract among those who live together would create danger (Souryal‚ 2007). Without a contact people would not be secure in their property‚ rights or claims; fights would break out in which stronger
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THE SOCIAL CONTRACT THEORY The idea of the social contract goes back‚ to Thomas Hobbes; John Locke‚ Jean-Jacques Rousseau‚ and Immanuel Kant developed it in different ways. After Kant the idea largely fell into disrepute until John Rawls resurrected it. It is now at the heart of the work of a number of moral and political philosophers. The purpose of this paper is to compare and contract the social contract theorists and their views on the origin of state. THOMAS HOBBES: (1588-1679) Background:
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THE SOCIAL CONTRACT THEORY The theory is as old as philosophy itself. It is of the view that persons’ moral and/ or political obligations are dependent upon a contract or agreement among them to form the society in which they live. The theory of a social contract is therefore a hypothesis explaining how society originates as well as the presumed relationships between its members‚ how they incur responsibilities and their rights. Early proponents of the social contract theory include; - Socrates
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Hobbes and the Hypothetical Contract In dealing with the problem with political authority Thomas Hobbes proposes that state’s derive their power from a hypothetical social contract that is made between a government and its citizens. It attempts to solve the problem with political legitimacy and political obligation; the right to rule and the reason citizens obey those in power. Hobbes believes that the only way to get out of a wild and unjust “state of nature” is to collectively give up some of
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What is the Function of a Social Contract? Philosophers have been concerned with the theories of a social contract for thousands of years. Plato mentions the concept in Crito and in Republic. These theories have stemmed from the concept of justice and for our society to be just. I will look at the works of Thomas Hobbes‚ John Locke‚ Jean Jacques Rousseau and finally with John Rawls after which a overall view into the function of a social contract can be derived as well as any problems with the theory(s)
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The purpose of a Social Contract is to keep society in order. Ways of keeping society in order are human rights‚ the constitution‚ police departments‚ and education in which all contributes in having a progressing society. Human rights have to be protected which are the first 13 or 14 amendments that’s states people’s rights. If humans didn’t have any rights of their own we would feel enslaved due to that we have no freedom. The Constitution contains laws that every human being has to follow unless
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JUSTIFIED BY THE SOCIAL CONTRACT? DISCUSS WITH REFERENCE TO THINKERS EXAMINED IN THIS UNIT Modern politics governments differ from state to state based on their constitutions. The origins of some of these constitutions are somewhat unclear and my essay will attempt to shed light on what foundations they might have been built. I will give Thomas Hobbes definition of man in the ‘the state of nature’ and the transformation from this state to society‚ with differing views of this transformation
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Rousseau’s Social Misunderstanding In The Social Contract‚ Jean-Jacques Rousseau proposes a utopian type social contract that all citizens are informally entered into. In this contract‚ Rousseau calls for the people to sacrifice their natural freedoms in order to receive a greater and more beneficial state of civil liberty. Civil liberty being the state of being subject to laws that are for the benefit of the community opposed to the individual. Rousseau claims that these sacrifices will result
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In this essay I will be discussing Thomas Hobbes’ and John Locke’s interpretation of the social contract theory. I will then be evaluating Locke’s argument that his conclusions differ from Hobbes’ as he claims. My thesis is the following: John Locke’s argument that his conclusions are different from Thomas Hobbes’ conclusions is not valid. He makes no claim as to why people are motivated to enter into a social contract; he also does not establish where the understanding of personal property comes
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