Politics And Social Contracts

12 Jul Politics And Social Contracts

Politics and Social Contracts

 

Flora Gorham

 

Phil 1001

 

Walden University

 

Abstract

 

We read and study about American History, The Declaration of Independents, The Constitution of The United States of America, but have you ever been curious where the writers of these documents discovered the ideas and principles that set the standards for such documents. The truth is many philosophers are responsible for the basic frame work of the most celebrated, studied, and referenced documents our government has ever produced. I am going to discuss three of the philosophers in the following paper. Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Jean Jacques Rousseau, their beliefs in social contracts and human nature have served as framework for many areas in our American History.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Politics and Social Contracts.

 

 

 

Understanding morality, human nature, and social contracts will help you understand the framework for many of today’s political decisions as they have built upon each other throughout history. First let’s look at our roles as citizens according to Hobbes, Loucke and Rousseau.

 

Hobbes believed that humans were unconstrained by laws or social agreements were living in a state of nature, selfish, destructive, and unprincipled. Without social contracts human lives would be nasty and very unpleasant. Loucke was a bit more optimistic regarding human nature, that humans being rational creatures were governed by natural laws and entitled to certain inalienable rights, known as life, liberty, health and property. That humans will come together to ensure their natural rights. Rousseau was more focused on human compassion, all humans are naturally compassionate. Look at these beliefs, and then think about society today, do you know someone that truly represents each one of these beliefs regarding human nature? Possibly even look back though your own life and the stages of growth you have experienced, I know at various times in my life I could have very fittingly been described by each of these descriptions of human nature.

 

Social contracts are believed to be essential, in order for humans to thrive and prosper by all of the philosophers, yet each of them had a slightly different view of how the social contracts affected society. Hobbes believed that social contracts were necessary to allow humans to coexist successfully in society. That humans would recognize the need and enter into the social contract willfully in order to enhance our own lives. Social contracts were necessary in order to establish justice and laws. Loucke believed that humans would find it to our advantage to come together, form a political state to maintain and ensure our natural rights. Throughout the years our natural rights are more commonly referred to as life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Rousseau focused on human compassion to include empathy and sympathy for fellow members of our society. Our human compassion is what guides our social contract to avoid conflict and upheaval with fellow members of society.

 

These beliefs separately and combined led to The Declaration of Independence, The Bill of Rights, as well as The Constitution of the United States. Which are all the framework for the judicial and justice system today. Hobbes and Loucke beliefs that humans are rational creatures whom are interested in using reasoning to attain a mutually productive social relationship. To formalize and enforce the laws of nature. These beliefs then led Rawls establishing basic human liberties, voting, running for office, freedom of speech and assembly, freedom of conscience and thought, freedom of the person and right to hold property, and freedom from arbitrary arrest and seizure.

 

Hobbes, Loucke, and Rousseau may have all had a varying belief on human nature and the drive behind a social contract, however they all agreed it was necessary to live in peace and harmony. All believed in the need for an authoritative department, figure, to establish the laws and enforce the laws once they were established. Justice is viewed as pursing the public interest, what is best for all parties or at minimum what is best for the majority of the society. These ideas were the framework of today’s government, which we know as the legislative branch, the executive branch and the judicial branch. The legislative branch determines the laws needed and establishes them. The executive branch reviews the laws then puts them in place or implements the laws. The judicial branch, formerly the federative branch, is responsible for enforcement and peace making among the society.

 

In conclusion these philosophers established the framework that was used to declare our rights, and liberties which is something I personally hold very dear. We have military men and women dying on a daily basis to defend and support our society, rights and beliefs. No they did not specifically write or sign the bill of rights, or constitution, none the less would we have the same natural rights that have been outlined and enforced for hundreds of years if the frame work had not been established?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References:

 

Chaffee, J. (2013). The Philosopher’s Way A Text With Readings (Second Edition ed.). USA: Pearson Prentice Hall.

 

 

 

Solomon, R. C., & Higgins, K. M. (2014). The Big Questions: A short Introduction to Philosophy (Eighth Edition ed.). Belmont: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.