I am currently teaching the social and political philosophy sections of an introductory course. Today the class was involved in a discussion about the philosopher Thomas Hobbes and his Social Contract theory.
Hobbes' fingerprints are all over the American constitution. Perhaps the only other philosopher who had more impact on our founding fathers was John Locke, another philosopher.
In short, Hobbes says the following:
1. Human beings are selfish.
2. Human beings seek power.
3. Human beings would take the property and person of all other human beings if they were powerful enough to do so.
4. Human beings are by and large equal. It is true that some are more powerful than others, but they can still be defeated, and killed, by a coalition of those who are less strong.
5. Human beings understand that they cannot ever experience peace and security in a State of Nature, a place in which there is no rule of law.
6. Human beings are willing to enter into a Social Contract giving each other the right to peace and security so long as others will also enter into the contract.
7. Some who sign the contract will cheat.
8. The person who enforces the contract is called the Sovereign. So long as the Sovereign enforces the contract he is to be obeyed. The Sovereign is the government.
9. When the sovereign does not enforce the contract he can and should be removed and civil disobedience is justified.
The question is this. Is the Sovereign providing peace and security?
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