In order to escape the state of nature (depicted by him to be a state in which life for humans is 'nasty, brutish, and short') people will simultaneously enter into a social contract in which each of their rights to all things is transferred to an all powerful Leviathan that then has the power to do anything in order to maintain civil peace. Entering into a society under the protection of a Leviathan is the best thing in terms of self-preservation which is, according to Hobbes, the number 1 priority for humans. Fear of each other is traded for fear of the Leviathan.
Hobbes believed that individuals come together and agree to give up some of their freedoms to a governing authority in exchange for protection and security. This agreement creates a social contract where the government has the power to maintain order and prevent chaos within society.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau is a philosopher who wrote about the social contract theory in his work "The Social Contract" (1762).
John Locke disagreed with Hobbes's social contract theory because he believed that individuals have natural rights, such as life, liberty, and property, that are not surrendered in the social contract. Unlike Hobbes, who believed in an absolute monarchy to maintain order, Locke argued for a more limited government that respects individual rights and can be overthrown if it fails to do so.
The social contract
In Hobbes's Leviathan, the purpose of the social contract is to create a sovereign authority with absolute power to maintain peace and order among individuals in a state of nature. This sovereign is responsible for upholding the social contract and protecting the people's lives and property in exchange for their obedience.
Thomas Hobbes argued that individuals in a state of nature would live in a constant state of war due to their selfishness and competitiveness. To avoid this, people form a social contract whereby they surrender some freedoms in exchange for security and societal order. This contract establishes a sovereign authority to ensure peace and stability.
Hobbes, Locke Rousseau
Hobbes
Thomas Hobbes
Thomas Hobbes
Jean-Jacques Rousseau is a philosopher who wrote about the social contract theory in his work "The Social Contract" (1762).
There were three men who are historically linked to social contract theory. They are Thomas Hobbes, john Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Both Hobbes and Locke were Englishmen.
Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau
Thomas hobbes believed that it was human nature to be greedy and that we were to follow to rules given to us by our higher powers. He did not believe in the rights given to us from the idea of the social contract.
Social Contract
protect the lives of everyone who agrees to the contract
Thomas hobbes believed that it was human nature to be greedy and that we were to follow to rules given to us by our higher powers. He did not believe in the rights given to us from the idea of the social contract.
only the sovereign is capable of protecting people from the state of nature