Social Contract Theory

Question 0

Is Thomas Hobbes social contract theory liberal or totalitarian?

Answer 0

Liberal:
Legitimacy of state derives from original support of the people
Right to resist of state fails to provide security

Totalitarian
No separation of powers
Very powerful state (with remaining ius in omnia)
People are subjects

Question 1

Thomas Hobbes and the leviathan

Answer 1

From state of nature to commonwealth

State of nature ( ius in omnia) war of everybody against everybody
Homo homini lupus est

Social contract
Individuals give up their ius in omnia

State/commonwealth
Leviathan
Peace and security, right to resist

Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) 
Historical background: armada 
Foundation of modern political philosophy : empirism, materialism, foundation of legitimate government through experiment state of nature: humans fear death, self-preservation, freedom, anarchy, security dilemma and prisoners dilemma 

social contract theory: individuals give up their rights (jus in omnia) (all but the future sovereign)

Function of sovereign state: protection of the citizens (peace and security)
Rejection of idea of separation of powers
Key political book: leviathan

Question 2

John Locke and the social contact

Answer 2

Evolution of private property

Originally: common property

Property is created by the application of labor

Accumulation of property by the introduction of money

John Locke (1632-1704) 
Pioneer of liberalism, Phil. Of liberty, developer of the notion of constitutionalism (separation of powers) 
Through experiment: state of nature (nature law)

Natural law: self-preservation and preservation of others! Right of property (life, freedom, material property) and duty of tolerance, but anarchy leads to insecurity

Social contract (goal protection of property) constitutes relationship of trust

Separation of power against abuse of power
Legislative (parliament)
Executive. Fed,prer., jud. (Monarchy)
Key political book: two treaties on government

Question 3

Rousseau and the volonte generale

Answer 3

From state of nature to sittlichen Gesellschaft

State of nature 
Natural human being 
Amour de soi (self-preservation) 
Natural liberty 
-
Money and property 

Modern society
Subject/bourgeois
Amour propre (comparison, pride)
Slavery rich/ poor

-social contract

Civil society
Citoyen
Orientation towards the common good
Civil liberty

Jean Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778)
One of the most important thinkers of enlightenment
(Critique of culture, pedagogy, state theory and democracy)
Alienation of humans in civilization as a consequence of rich/poor difference

Natural human becomes egoistic and profit maximization through money and property, state secures rule of the rich (ans superficial)

Social contract as solution (aim-:equality)
Sovereignty of the people (no delegation of power, direct democracy )

Volonte generale (the common good) as guiding principle

Key political books : le contrat social
Discurs sur l’origine de l’inegalite parmi les hommes

Question 4

Identity theory of democracy

Answer 4

Volonte generale (general will) aims at the common good

• law

Government

People

Volonte de tous (will of all) Sum of all wishes and the will of individuals

Process of rational discussion and clarification

Volonte generale

No representation! No parliament! Law is made by all citizens

Question 5

Is Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s social contract theory liberal or totalitarian?

Answer 5

Liberal
State action on the basis of democratic decision-making

Totalitarian
(Popper, Berlin)
Volonte generale : who defines it? No representation, dictatorship of majority