503:Discussion Board - Political philosophy

Political philosophy
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The theory of political contract (also known as social contract) as proposed by three scholars; Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau addressed the question of the legitimacy of a government’s authority over social status of individuals. Even though through different perspectives, the three scholars somewhat address a similar issue. The central argument of the social contract is that individuals, in order to get protection of other rights from an authority, have to surrender some of their freedoms and become a subject of the authority. One aspect of the social contract theory is the question of both natural and legal rights that one has. Locke and Hobbes believed in the existence of the two rights. They held that a government derives its powers and rights from the nature that we are in and is therefore limited.
In his argument, Locke states that “All government is limited in its powers and exists only by the consent of the governed (pg 476).” By this statement, Locke tries to justify his position that social relations are autonomous from relations deemed civil and are God given. In other words, acting according to how nature is set is acting morally.
“John Locke's contribution to Western political philosophy is almost completely in contradiction to Hobbes. Locke wished to demonstrate that religious liberty would not imperil the state; indeed, he argued that liberty in general is the best protection against tyranny that would otherwise make the state intolerable. (pg 2)”
His views are however differed by Hobbes who maintains that civil societies are responsible for making moral differences. He states that, Human behavior is to be understood primarily in terms of a mechanistic psychology of the passions (pg 398). Further on, he objectifies the concept of morality in terms of the references made by man for good and evil. He argues that the two terms are constructs by men for what pleases and what does not please them. Therefore, according to Hobbes, the goals and character of moral and political life should be determined by reference to nature, especially human nature (pg 398). This is to further say that according to Hobbes, the state which derives its laws from nature is an important step towards making what is right or wrong.
Rousseau seems to hold the view in accordance to Locke. He argues that man was born free, and everywhere he is in chains… that is man was born morally perfect (pg 559). Civil society enchains man and makes him a slave to law or other men (pg 559). By this he means that the civil society corrupt ones and alienates them with the virtuous state one is born in. this is highly contested by the bible that states in Romans 13:1, “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” The same aspect is supported by the bible in Psalms 22: 28 which states, “For kingship belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations.” Conversely, a civil society should present a morally upright human, just as is one at birth. However, the civil society is developed to help in the development of moral di...