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3 pages/β‰ˆ825 words
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4 Sources
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APA
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Social Sciences
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Essay
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English (U.S.)
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Topic:

Social and Racial Contract Theories

Essay Instructions:

Articles are required to have a separate file, plus 3 references. The essay requirements are very detailed, and the teacher's grading is very strict, and the essay must be completed according to the requirements. The essay should be based solely on these three references, from each of the three philosophers. The five dimensions of scoring:

Paper #2: Social and Racial Contract Theories

Explain and critically evaluate the social contract theory of either Hobbes or Locke. Be sure to discuss how the thinker you choose characterizes the state of nature, the purpose of entering into a social contract, the origin of morality and justice, and the role of the state/sovereign.

Then describe Mills’s alternative account of how our society formed through a racial contract. Finally, defend a position on the following question: Does Mills’s critique undermine the classical social contract theory you described? In answering this question, provide at least one argument for your position. Do not simply say that ‘you agree or disagree with Mills’. Providing relevant historical examples which support your position might be one way to go. 

Your paper should be based entirely on assigned class readings on Hobbes, Locke, Mills or our class discussion; do not consult outside sources. Cite the texts parenthetically by title and page number; this rule was in the paper prompt 1 as well, but many did not follow this rule; make sure to follow it this time. You are not allowed to copy paste from the lecture slides; it is plagiarism, please see the syllabus for a link for academic honesty rules. Students

are responsible for knowing, understanding and acting in full accord with these policies.

Your paper will be graded on (a) the clarity and completeness of your explanation of the relevant text and (b) the clarity, plausibility, and originality of your critical evaluation.

MAKE SURE to have a clear thesis that you develop throughout the essay. In the introduction of your paper, you should explain the roadmap of the paper. CHECK the guidelines on Blackboard for writing philosophy papers.

Avoid giving any introduction about lives of the authors. Do not use LONG quotes from the texts; you only have 2-3 pages to explain their views and raise an objection etc., so do not let the authors; you should be the voice in the paper by summarizing their views. You must be able to paraphrase their views, instead of copy pasting paragraphs from their works. QUOTATIONS are needed only to document important or controversial points of an author’s view, and they should be short. For any quotation you make, explain what the quoted text says in your own words and explain its relevance to your discussion. Do not make quotations speak for you. (One main point of your essays is for you to show the instructor that you have not only read but also understood the texts and issues.) HOWEVER, even if you paraphrase the assigned readings in your paper, you are required to provide proper citations in parenthesis; otherwise it is called plagiarism. See the syllabus for a link for academic honesty rules and learn the rules. Students are responsible for knowing, understanding and acting in full accord with these policies. 

 

Essay Sample Content Preview:

Social and Racial Contract Theories
Student's Name
Department, Institutional Affiliation
Course Code, Course Title
Instructor's Name
Due Date
Social and Racial Contract Theories
Hobbes's social contract theory perceives that political and moral obligations depend on the agreement between equal, free, and rational people to create a society under absolute sovereign power. To preserve peace and security, Hobbes argues that society must shun self-destruction, a state of war, and nature. Hobbes also determines that society should submit to the authority of a sovereign, unlimited and undivided, and absolute power. Hobbes perceives the sovereign authority as absolute, meaning no authority exists more significant than the sovereign. However, this theorist notes that sovereign power is not all encircling since the subjects are free to the rule of nature when the sovereign remains silent. Therefore, the social contract permits people to enter civil society and abandon the state of nature as long as the government stays in power.
Hobbes characterizes nature as a violent and continuous state of competition. In these competitions, each individual believes in having a natural right to possess everything. Equally important, this theorist notes that self-preservation principles are the only existing laws in the rule of nature. (Hobbes, 69). Hobbes notes that nature made man equal in mind and body. However, the differences arise when one individual's mind manifests quicker, or the body grows stronger. Despite the existing differences, denying another individual the ownership of anything is not significant enough. In this case, even the weakest can claim material from the strongest through confederacy or secret machination. In brief, Hobbes proposes that every man has an equal chance to possess anything with negligible variation in the body and mind variations.
Hobbes perceives that the main reason to enter a social contract is to reduce an individual's liberty. "The lay down a man's right to anything is to divest himself of the liberty of hindering another of the benefit of his right to the same" (Hobbes 73). From this statement, it is notable that Hobbes believes individual rights should be minimal to ensure a cohesive existence between people. Notably, Hobbes connotes that people enter into social contracts to create ordinances and laws mainly because they comprehend that a stable society is preferable to one arising from the "state of nature." In this social contract instance, individuals create a society or state through mutual agreement or contract. In these contracts, people empower a group or individuals to r...
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