Sociological Theory

Social Contract Theory

Department of Sociology and Anthropology
UMD

Thomas Hobbes THOMAS HOBBES (1588-1679)

  1. REVOLUTIONS LED TO GROWTH IN NOTION OF POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY

  2. CONTRACT THEORY USED TO JUSTIFY EXISTENCE OF STATE AND PROTECT AGAINST RESURGENCE OF OLDER FORMS OF POWER

  3. PRE-SOCIAL STATE OF NATURE
    • WAR OF ALL AGAINST ALL
    • HUMANS WERE ANTI SOCIAL
    • DIFFERS FROM ARISTOTELIAN VIEW OF (SOCIAL CREATURES)

  4. TO SURVIVE:
    UNITE INTO CIVIL SOCIETY FOR MUTUAL PROTECTION, IRREVOCABLE TRANSFER OF INDIVIDUAL POWERS TO THE GOVERNING AGENT
  5. PSYCHOLOGICAL THEORY, NOT HISTORICAL
    IRREVOCABLE NATURE OF THE CONTRACT
    UNLIMITED SOVEREIGN POWER
    THESE NOTIONS DISTINGUISH HIM FROM OTHER CONTRACT THEORISTS

  6. THIS TICKED OFF PURITANS AND CAVALIERS
    • A. THOUGHT POWER CAME FROM GOD
    • B.. FOR HOBBES, RELIGION RESULTED FROM FEAR AND LACK OF UNDERSTANDING

  7. HUMANS SHARE IDEAS WHICH RESULT IN COLLISION OF WILLS,
    POLITICAL ORDER MUST SORT THAT OUT


Hobbes grave in England


 John Locke JOHN LOCKE (1631-1704)

  1. STATE OF NATURE
    FREE, EQUAL AND INDEPENDENT
    LIVED IN HARMONY OF EQUALITY

  2. CAN'T BE CONTROLLED WITHOUT THEIR CONSENT, THEREFORE, MUST HAVE CONSENTED

  3. REASON - TO PROTECT PROPERTY
    • a. WITH MONEY CAME PUSH TO PRODUCE BEYOND NECESSITIES,
      WEALTH BECAME DISPROPORTIONATE
    • b. STATE BECAME NECESSARY

  4. HUMANS WERE EQUAL, BECAME UNEQUAL,
    THE STATE WILL CREATE EQUALITY AGAIN

  5. GAVE UP TWO POWERS
    • 1. THE RIGHT TO DO ANYTHING TO SURVIVE
    • 2. THE RIGHT TO PUNISH

  6. DISTINGUISHES BETWEEN STATE AND GOVERNMENT
    • RIGHT TO REVOLUTION
    • MORAL AND LEGAL RIGHT; ALSO
    • MORAL AND SOCIAL OBLIGATION
    • JUSTIFICATION?
      VIOLATION OF CONTRACT
      LIFE, LIBERTY AND PROPERTY
John Locke's grave, England


DAVID HUME (1711-1778)

SOCIETY STEMS FROM:
  1. SEX BRINGS SEXES TOGETHER LEADING TO FAMILY

  2. SYMPATHY ALWAYS DEVELOPS AMONG FAMILY

  3. SELFISHNESS MAKES SEX AND FAMILY INADEQUATE TO HOLD SOCIETY TOGETHER,
    NEED GOVERNMENT TO SECURE PROPERTY

  4. GOVERNMENT ARISES OUT OF TRIAL AND ERROR, NOT CONTRACT

  5. TO HIM CONTRACT NOTION WAS STUPID,
    ALL EXISTING GOVERNMENTS WERE FOUNDED ON FORCE
    A. CONTRACT IMPLIES KNOWLEDGE BEFORE EXPERIENCE,
    PEOPLE CAN'T DO THAT

  6. HUMANS WERE ALWAYS SOCIAL, NOT PRE-SOCIAL STATE OF NATURE

  7. CONSENSUS IS DESIRABLE BUT MOST GOVERNMENTS USE FORCE TO GAIN OBEDIENCE

  8. JUSTICE STEMS FROM FAMILY (SYMPATHY)
David Hume's grave in Scottland




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Copyright: © 2001, John Hamlin
Last Modified: Friday, 12-Sep-2003 15:05:35 CDT
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