Social contract theory

this explains social contract theory in detail which says that state was created by men.

1. SOCIAL CONTRACT THEORIES Key Concepts: The State of Nature The Social Contract The Sovereign By Mr. Mahesh Jaiwantrao Patil M.A (Political Science), M.Phil , NET, SET, P.hD (Pursuing)

2. Social Contract Theory Before society we were in the State of Nature. An individual dictated what he/she could/could not do. Survival of the Fittest Murder Example…

3. Social Contract Theory When we came into contact with other people we entered a Society. When we created State & government we entered a Social Contract.

4. Key Concepts: The State of Nature : A pre-social condition. The Social Contract : An agreement between (a) members of the community or (b) members of the community and the Sovereign. The Sovereign : The legitimate head of state after the Social Contract: (a) a person or group of persons, such as a monarch or a government, or (b) the people representing themselves.

5. KEY PLAYERS IN SOCIAL CONTRACT THEORY Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679): Argues in favor of absolute monarchy. H e publishe d hi s book , th e Leviatha n , i n 1651 . I n thi s boo k h e gav e a striking expositio n o f th e theor y o f Social Contract. His object was t o defen d th e absolute powe r o f th e monarc h an d h e use d the doctrin e o f th e Socia l Contrac t to suppor t it .

6. Thomas Hobbes Believed that life in the state of nature is "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short" His most famous work is Leviathan .

7. Thomas Hobbes Believed that humans are inherently bad because everyone is self-interested. Hobbs felt it was best to submit to the will of a Sovereign without question.

8. Thomas Hobbes Man entered into government for Safety. The main role of government is to protect its citizens. Rights and liberty always come after safety and protection. Never overthrow the government because doing so creates anarchy and then there is no safety.

9. VIEWS ON THE STATE OF NATURE: Hobbes : The State of Nature is a dangerous place, and “life of man “ is “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.” characterize d a s th e pre-socia l phase o f huma n nature “th e libert y tha t eac h ma n ha s t o use hi s ow n powe r fo r th e preservatio n of hi s ow n nature.” Ma n no t a t al l social , indee d “nothing bu t grie f i n th e compan y o f hi s fellows”- al l bein g almos t equall y selfish , self- seeking , egoistic , bruta l and aggressive .

10. Th e Stat e o f Natur e: characterize d a s th e pre-socia l phase o f huma n nature “th e libert y tha t eac h ma n ha s t o use hi s ow n powe r fo r th e preservatio n of hi s ow n nature.” Ma n no t a t al l social , indee d “nothing bu t grie f i n th e compan y o f hi s fellows”- al l bein g almos t equall y selfish , self- seeking , egoistic , bruta l and aggressive .

11. Th e Contrac t Agree d t o surrende r thei r natura l rights int o th e hand s o f commo n superio r and t o obe y hi s commands. establish A contrac t bindin g eac h an d al l to unquestionin g obedienc e t o a a sovereig n coul d really stabl e commonwealt h .

12. KEY PLAYERS IN SOCIAL CONTRACT THEORY John Locke (1632-1704): Argues in favor of representational democracy. Anti-royalist. He is an English Political philosopher, advocates of limited Monarchy in England. Th e theor y o f Joh n Lock e i s foun d in hi s Tw o Treatie s o n Civi l Government publishe d i n 169 defende d the ultimat e righ t o f th e peopl e t o depose th e monarc h fro m hi s authorit y i f he eve r deprive d the m o f thei r “ liberties an d properties.”

13. John Locke Wrote Two Treatises on Government . The first treatise is concerned almost exclusively with refuting the argument of Robert Filmer’s Patriarcha , that political authority was derived from religious authority, also known by the description of the Divine Right of Kings. The second treatise contains Locke’s own constructive view of the aims and justification for civil government.

14. John Locke Believed that people entered into society to protect their “life, liberty, and property”. Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence, admired Locke.

15. John Locke The government’s main job is to protect the citizen’s property. If they government is not providing you with protection for your property you have the right to revolt. Justified the American Revolution

16. Th e Stat e o f Natur e It was pre-politica l an d no t pre-social Ma n wa s neithe r selfish , no r self- seeking , no r aggressive. Me n wer e equa l an d fre e t o ac t they though t fit , bu t withi n th e bound s o f the la w o f nature.

17. Locke: The State of Nature exists any time humans haven’t entered into an agreement with each other to participate in a government. Even so, it is not chaotic because of human rationality, and the three natural rights to life, liberty, and property. It was pre-politica l an d no t pre-social Ma n wa s neithe r selfish , no r self- seeking , no r aggressive. Me n wer e equa l an d fre e t o ac t they though t fit , bu t withi n th e bound s o f the la w o f nature.

18. Nee d fo r Civi l Society whic h remaine d unsatisfie d i n th e state o f nature: Th e wan t o f a n established , settled, know n law T h e wan t o f a know n an d indifferent judge , and Th e wan t o f a n executin g powe r to enforc e jus t decisions. According t o Locke, thi s “il l condition” wa s due t o three importan t wants

19. Th e socia l contrac t wa s n o mor e tha n a transfe r o f certai n right s an d power s so tha t man’ s remainin g right s woul d be protecte d an d preserve d . Th e contrac t wa s fo r limite d and specifi c purpose s an d wha t wa s given u p wa s transferre d t o th e communit y as a whol e an d no t t o a ma n o r t o a assembl y o f men .

20. Two Contracts A Social Contract which brought into being the civil society or the State. A governmental contract when society in its corporate capacity established a government and selected a ruler to remove the inconveniences, which necessitates the formation of the civil society or the State. Locke recognized the existence of 3 powers in the civil society or the state, legislative, executive and federative.

21. Jean-Jacques Rousseau Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778): Argues in favor of direct democracy. H e i s th e grea t Frenc h write r o f th e 1 8 th century , elaborate d hi s theor y i n his famou s wor k “Th e Socia l Contract” publishe d i n 1762.

22. Jean-Jacques Rousseau "Man was born free, and he is everywhere in chains.“ His most famous works are Discourse on the Origin and Foundations of Inequality Among Men (AKA The Second Discourse) & The Social Contract.

23. Jean-Jacques Rousseau Believed that humans are born inherently good. He coined the term “Nobel Savage”. However, once the idea of private property was introduced mankind experienced a “fall from grace”. Individuals with many possessions saw that it would be in their best interest to create a government to protect their possessions.

24. Jean-Jacques Rousseau How can we be free and live together? Or, put another way, how can we live together without succumbing to the force and coercion of others? We can do so, Rousseau maintains, by submitting our individual wills to the collective or general will, created through agreement with other free and equal persons.

25. Jean-Jacques Rousseau All men are made by nature to be equals, therefore no one has a natural right to govern others, and therefore the only justified authority is the authority that is generated out of agreements or covenants. Rousseau advocates the strictest form of Direct Democracy.

26. Rousseau: The State of Nature is a wonderful, rich environment for early humans living solitary peaceful lives. ma n i n thi s stat e o f natur e wa s a “noble savage ” wh o le d a lif e o f primitive simplicit y an d idylli c happiness He was independen t , contente d , self- sufficient , health y , an d fearles s and “withou t nee d o f hi s fellow s o r desir e to har m them.”

27. VIEWS ON HUMAN NATURE Hobbes: Humans are selfish by nature and must be controlled. Locke: Humans are rational by nature, and can by-and-large control themselves. Rousseau: Humans are good and compassionate by nature, but can be corrupted by civilization.

28. Emergenc e o f Civi l Societ y : individual s becam e a collectiv e unit y – a society “put s hi s perso n an d al l hi s powe r in commo n unde r th e suprem e direction o f th e genera l wil l an d i n ou r corporate capacit y w e receiv e eac h membe r as a n indivisibl e par t o f th e whole.”

29. THE SOVEREIGN Hobbes: The absolute monarch (king or queen) Locke: The people (all adult males) electing a government in democratic elections Rousseau: The people vote on all matters; the people are the Sovereign

30. EFFECTS OF THE SOCIAL CONTRACT Hobbes: People will live in peace but without rights except for the right to self-defense Locke: The three natural rights which exist in the State of Nature will be easier to enforce by the government. Those who have given express consent will be bound by the contract; those who have given tacit consent can opt out and leave. Rousseau: Life will be fair for all if we employ the general will and set aside our personal interests.

31. INFLUENCES Hobbes: Inspired Locke, and indirectly, Jefferson Locke: Inspired Thomas Jefferson in his Declaration of Independence Rousseau: Inspired Jefferson, to some extent, but also Kant, Marxism, the environmentalist movement, respect for indigenous peoples, and modern child pedagogy