Social Contract Philosophy

Divine Right of Kings

• Pre-Enlightenment rulers claimed their right to rule from the divine right of kings.
• Belief: power came directly from God.
• People, being very religious, did not question this right.

Enlightenment and Social Contract Philosophy

• Enlightenment saw the development of social contract philosophy.
• Relationship between people and the government.
• Belief: right to rule comes from the people.
• Different interpretations on how much freedom should be given up for security and protection.

Thomas Hobbes

• View on Human Nature: inherently destructive, leading to violence and chaos.
• In "Leviathan": described life without government as "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.”
• Social Contract: People should voluntarily give up their freedoms to a strong authoritative figure for security.
• Preferred Government: Strong authoritarian ruler (Leviathan) to maintain order.

John Locke

• View on Human Nature: People are born with a tabula rasa (blank slate).
• Belief: People are inherently good and capable of self-improvement.
• Social Contract: Limited government that serves to promote life, liberty, and property.
• Representative Democracy: People elect leaders to make laws on their behalf.
  • Leaders are rational and make rational laws.
  • Right to overthrow (revolution or elections) if leaders fail.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

• View on Society: Society leads to corruption and inequality.
• Famous Saying: "Man is born free, but everywhere in chains."
• Belief: Stripping away societal structures leads to true equality.
• Social Contract: Community decision-making based on the general will.
  • True freedom comes from direct democracy and equality.

Summary Phrases

• Hobbes: Life without strong authority is nasty, brutish, and short.
• Locke: Freedom and limited government protect life, liberty, and property.
• Rousseau: Man is born free, but society corrupts, leading to inequality.

Modern Relevance

• Most modern societies draw from these three philosophers.
• Liberal democracies align with Locke’s ideas of government protecting personal freedom and property.
• Debate continues: Balance between individual freedoms and security.