Summary of social contract theory by hobbes, locke and rousseau article pdf available in ssrn electronic journal april 20 with 182,572 reads how we measure reads. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Since this material became available philosophers have been 3 hobbes and the social contract tradition, jean hampton cambridge. Pdf this paper provides a small summary of social contract theory by hobbes, locke and rousseau. The social contract theory states that some amount of individual liberty must be given up in favor of common security. This root cause of civil war has become an axiom for hobbesean social contract. Jean hampton, hobbes and the social contract tradition. Cambridge university press this major study of hobbes political philosophy draws on recent developments in game and decision theory to explore whether the thrust of the argument in leviathan, that it is in the interests of the people to create a ruler with absolute power, can be shown to be cogent. I as a student found it to be most valuable for my studies and would strongly recommend any other student of philosophy or anyone else who is interested in the social contract theory and in particular in hobbes argument to purchase this book. Reason and agreement in social contract views jstor.
A close study and rational reconstruction of hobbess political philosophy, employing concepts from game theory. The social contract works up to a certain extent in that there is a certain level of implicit agreement between a state and its citizens, but these agreements do not go so far as to constitute a mutually accepted contract. Social contract theory thomas hobbes state of nature we implicitly accept a social contract establishment of moral rules to govern relations among citizens government capable of enforcing these rules jeanjacques rousseau in ideal society, no one above rules that prevents society from enacting bad rules. Hobbes and the social contract tradition jean hampton this major study of hobbes s political philosophy draws on recent developments in game and decision theory to explore whether the thrust of the argument in leviathan, that it is in the interests of the people to create a ruler with absolute power, can be shown to be cogent. In this society, constitution reflects contract document and constituent assembly reflects the social contract. Hobbes and the social contract tradition, jean hampton cambridge university press. This major study of hobbess political philosophy draws on recent developments in game and decision theory to explore whether the thrust of the argument in leviathan, that it is in the interests of the people to. The essence of the rousseaus theory of general will is that state and law were the product of general will of the. This trips up even the pros because hobbes suggests that it is very important that the sovereign is not part of the social contract in chapter 18. Social contract theory is the view that a persons moral andor political obligations are dependent upon a contract or agreement among them to form the society in which they live. In other words, i give up my natural right to steal your food because you give up your natural right to steal mine. Hobbes and social contract tradition political philosophy. Through social contract, a new form of social organisation, the state, was formed to assure and guarantee rights, liberties freedom and equality.
Notice hobbes presents a framework for understanding the origins of morality. The social contract in what hobbes called the commonwealth by acquisition ch. Hobbess social contract theory became very important, but its importance was soon eclipsed by the later social contract theory of john locke. The social contract in the commonwealth by institution ch. In its recognizably modern form, however, the idea is revived by thomas hobbes. Which social contract theory as espoused by hobbes. Thus, the authority or the government or the sovereign or the state came into being because of the two agreements.
Hobbes and locke were not the first to use the social contract model as a tool to explain the foundations of human society. In a very interesting final chapter, hampton analyzes the structure and rationale of social contract theories in general. The book does also offer a general description of the the social contract theory. Social contract theory internet encyclopedia of philosophy. The social contract is the agreement among people to live under a system of government, and social contract theory involves how and why this agreement emerged. Lecture 8 social contract theory university of british. The social contract is an attempt to explain the reason why individuals agree to form organized governments. Then the paper points out the state of nature according to hobbes, locke and rousseau. According to hobbes social contract theory, rape and torture would not be rightwrong in the state of nature, but most people would think that they are wrong even in a state of nature. Contemporary approaches to the social contract stanford.
It is rightly associated with modern moral and political theory and is given its first full. In moral and political philosophy, the social contract is a theory or model that originated during the age of enlightenment and usually concerns the legitimacy of the authority of the state over the individual. The laws are there to protect people and make a life. This major study of hobbess political philosophy draws on recent developments in game and decision theory to explore whether the thrust of the argument in leviathan, that it is in the interests of the people to create a ruler with absolute power, can be shown to be cogent. I will attempt to answer this question by initially explaining what hobbes view on humanity was, since these views were what caused him to write his theory on the social contract, quote part of what he wrote regarding the subject and what it means in laymans terms what hobbes believed. Summary of social contract theory by hobbes, locke and. Thomas hobbes social contract theory essay 895 words. Hobbes in leviathan argued for a form of government in which subjects submit to the rule of an absolute sovereign through a social contract between the ruler. Psychological egoism, and his theory of the social contract. It starts with some reflections on general aspects of moral and political theories with special reference to contractualist theories. In place of the natural right we have created a limited right. Thomas hobbes stated that men would always be in a condition of war if they did what they wanted all of the time.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. If all men were basically selfish, then they would only aim. Cambridge core political philosophy hobbes and the social contract tradition by jean hampton skip to main content accessibility help we use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Thomas hobbes and social contract theory vernacular. The university of kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender expression and genetic information in the universitys programs and activities. If there is a contract, it is not arrived at through implicit or. Cambridge university press, aug 26, 1988 philosophy 299 pages. Thomas hobbes devised the social contract theory in the 17th century.
It discusses what is the social contract theory and the reason. His method will be the social contract, one of the most powerful of modern political ideas. Hobbes employed the social contract model to demonstrate that absolutism is the only logical outcome hobbes prided himself on grounding the authority of the sovereign and the liberty and duty of subjects on axioms of human nature rather than on tradition and divine right. Outline hobbes theory on the social contract giving details on what he believed was needed to maintain it. Jean hampton, hobbes and the social contract tradition philpapers. This paper provides a small summary of social contract theory by hobbes, locke and rousseau. This major study of hobbes political philosophy draws on recent developments in game and decision theory to explore whether the thrust of. The discovery of lockes papers comprising the lovelace collection has provided a better understanding of lockes views on the state of nature and natural law. The major disadvantages involve questions about whether the social contract ever had a basis in history and how it addresses nonparticipants in the contract. The social contract theory generally, social contract theorists advance the view that the state or, more precisely, civil society is the product of a contract, a covenant, an agreement, or a compact. Social contract theory when we came into contact with other people we entered a society. In laymens terms, this means that the people give up some of their rights to a government in order to receive protection and social order.
Matthew lane swanson 1995 dissertation, university of missouri columbia. A society is certainly conceivable in which there was no governmental intervention in family life or education and in which the sole function of law enforcement was the upholding of universal rights. This major study of hobbess political philosophy draws on recent developments in game and decision theory to explore whether the thrust of the argument in. It also put forth the differences of opinion of these jurists of the state of nature with regard to. Written at the end of the english civil war, leviathan exhibits a fair appraisal of human dignity while also exposing the dangers of traditional democracy. The social contract is a feature of modern society. Hobbes, locke, rousseau and the social contract theory alex y. This was a theory of the social contract, a theory of rational individuals creating a rational government, a government not based on class. Study 23 terms hobbes, natural law, social contract. After kant, the idea largely fell into disrepute until it was resurrected by john rawls. Pdf summary of social contract theory by hobbes, locke and. For hobbes, the justification of society must be rooted in human nature, independent of any form of social life, history, or tradition. Hobbes and the social contract tradition jean hampton.
Analysis of the theory of social contract by thomas hobbes thomas hobbes theory of social contract appeared for the first time in leviathan. Social contract arguments typically posit that individuals have consented, either explicitly or tacitly, to surrender some of their freedoms and submit to the authority of the ruler. The most influential socialcontract theorists were the 17th18th century philosophers thomas hobbes, john locke, and jeanjacques rousseau. According to hobbes, the root cause of civil war in england can be, without any hesitation, attributed to the selfish nature of man. The social contract tradition and the question of political legitimacy. New york wikipedia citation please see wikipedias template documentation for further citation fields that may be required. The condition in which people give up some individual liberty in exchange for some common security is the social contract. Essay on thomas hobbes social contract theory 982 words. His theory of a social contract celebrated the rights. Pdf hobbes and the social contract tradition kacem. The classical contract tradition of hobbes, locke, and rousseau have enjoyed such fame and acceptance as being basic to the development of liberal democratic theory and practice that it would be heretical for any scholar, especially one from the fringes, to critique. It is interesting to note that peer to locke and hobbes and fellow social contract theorist, rousseau, was not a proponent of natural law for the individual as he believed governments or a sovereign were needed to rule the innately evil mankind to protect it from itself.
Hobbes and the social contract tradition by jean hampton. Thomas hobbes, 15881679, lived during the most crucial period of early modern. Social contract theory before society we were in the state of nature. The idea that a person is willing to abandon the freedoms previously enjoyed under the state of nature in which no government interfered with their pursuits, are believed to correspond to the individuals attempt to protect what is on their best interest. Both authors trea1 the social contract as they reconstruct it as what hampton calls an agency contract, which establishes a government continually answerable to its citizens, rather than an alienation contract, which authorizes the government once established to do anything that it sees fit without further reference to the consent of the. That regime is just that would be chosen by rational, selfinterested. Likewise, kindness to children or sharing with the poorhungry would be virtuous even if there were no social agreements. The idea of the social contract goes back at least to epicurus thrasher 20.
More recent defenders of the social contract such as john rawls are clear about the fact that the social contract does not necessarily refer to a. Hobbes and the social contract tradition by jean e. The term social contract describes a broad class of philosophical theories whose subject is the implied agreements by which people form nations and maintain a social order. An individual dictated what heshe couldcould not do. Social contract, in political philosophy, an actual or hypothetical compact, or agreement, between the ruled and their rulers, defining the rights and duties of each. Having concluded that it is natural and rational for people to give up some liberty in order to gain security of selfpreservation, hobbes develops a conception of what forms of social organization and political system are consistent with those aims. All of the views on the social contract that we discussed in class. Overview of leviathan more than most works published during the enlightenment, thomas hobbes leviathan 1651 stands as a transition piece between the medieval and modern ages. The social contract is the agreement by which individuals mutually transfer their natural right. A basic introduction, criticisms, and discussion questions.
Hobbes, locke, rousseau and the social contract theory. Buy hobbes and the social contract tradition new ed by hampton, jean isbn. Arguably, elements of the social contract have existed as long as. Hobbess idea of agreement differs fundamentally from rousseaus, just as gauthier and.
596 588 672 479 808 1523 1104 1216 140 1192 603 950 1240 1660 501 1315 1355 1198 686 1135 1379 588 1353 1230 1027 929 9 675 7 1109 980 192 37 193 399 213 300 610