State of Nature and Social Contract Theory Mr. Kirkpatrick United States Government

State of Nature Humans as they exist prior to the formation of governments Hypothetical conditions of what the lives of people might have been like before societies came into existence. Starting point to that leads to questions such as: What was life like before civil society? How did government first emerge from such a starting position? What are the hypothetical reasons for entering a state of society by establishing a nation-state? Ultimate Questions Why do we form governments? Why do consent to be governed?

Thomas Hobbes and John Locke

Thomas Hobbes English philosopher – 1588 to 1679 Considered one of the founders of modern political philosophy Champion of divine right of kings, but was also proto-Enlightenment in thinking: Right of the individual Natural equality of all men Legitimate political power must be representative

Hobbes’ State of Nature If two men desire the same thing and they cannot both have it, they become enemies This constant state of battle between men for finite resources creates “war,” or every man against every man This constant state of war means that nothing productive can get done and man is constantly fighting among its self “The life of man is solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.”

Locke’s State of Nature All men are created equal – a perfect state of freedom exists As long as behaves within the realm of natural law, there is no problem “that being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions” Because we are all equal, man should, as much possible, preserve the rest of mankind “the preservation of the life, the liberty, health, limb, or goods of another.”

Hobbes’ Solution Man will desire security from the constant state of “war” Give up liberty and property in order to secure one's life; avoid the nasty, brutish, and short life This natural desire for security and order leads men to turn to supreme rulers who can fulfill these natural desires

Locke’s Solution Man enters into agreement with other men to form a state Primary duty of this government is the protection of man's natural rights Locke argued that this voluntary arrangement serves as the foundation for the state's legitimacy and authority over its citizens If a government fails to protect the rights or exceeded its authority, people have the right to revolt These ideas of the consent of governed, the social contract, and right of revolt heavily influenced the Declaration of Independence and US Constitution