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Pages:
7 pages/β‰ˆ1925 words
Sources:
12 Sources
Style:
Turabian
Subject:
Social Sciences
Type:
Research Paper
Language:
English (U.S.)
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MS Word
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Topic:

The Social Contract Theory Research Paper

Research Paper Instructions:

503: Final Research Paper 01 Instructions

 

 

The paper must be 7–FULL pages long (not including the title page and bibliography), in current Turabian format, with default margins, and in 12-pt Times New Roman font. Paper must include citations to adequate sources supporting and/or illustrating your positions. Paper must include a title page and bibliography, also in current Turabian format.

 

This paper will be on a topic of your choosing, but you must present a topic of genuine philosophical importance. This is an opportunity for you to apply political philosophy, not merely report on what you have read. As such, you will be required to develop, explain, and offer defenses for anticipated challenges to the thesis of your paper. Papers that merely “report on” a philosopher, philosophical idea, etc., rather than developing, explaining, and defending a well-crafted thesis will have failed to comply with these instructions.

 

Be sure to read closely the grading rubric for the assignment. Scriptural excerpts with citations are required in all written assignments. Note that at least 7 scholarly sources (peer-reviewed academic journal articles or books published by university presses), one of which must be the course text, are required.

 

 

Research Paper Topic: The Social Contract Theory

***Examine the development of the notion of government by social contract in the writings of Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau. What did Locke find wrong in Hobbes’ account, Rousseau find objectionable in Locke’s theory, and what problems remain in Rousseau’s social contract? Does the notion of government by social contract even make sense, and if so, what is the best social contract that can be achieved?

***Hint: Spend most of your time on the theories of the philosophers from the course reading: Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau PDF files by Strauss and Cropsey.

 

***Further Instructions on Sources:

  1. 5-7 citations: PDF file PDF file call “Thomas Hobbes” by Strauss, Leo and Joseph Cropsey. History of Political Philosophy. 3rd ed. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1987.
  2. 5-7 citations: PDF file PDF file call “John Locke” by Strauss, Leo and Joseph Cropsey. History of Political Philosophy. 3rd ed. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1987.
  3. 5-6 citations: PDF file PDF file call “Jean Jacques Rousseau” by Strauss, Leo and Joseph Cropsey. History of Political Philosophy. 3rd ed. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1987.
  4. 1-2 citations: PDF file call “A Paradox of Sovereignty in Rousseau’s Social Contract”
  5. 1-2 citations: PDf file call “Hobbes, Rousseau and the Modern Conception of he State”
  6. 1-2 citaitons: PDF file call “Politics as the Imitation of the Divine in Rousseau’s “Social Contract”
  7. 1-2 citations: PDF file call “Religion, Sacred History in Politics in Thomas Hobbes Leviathan”
  8. 1-2 citations: PDF file call “Jesus is the Christ, The Political Theology of Leviathan”
  9. 1-2 citations: PDF file call “Locke’s State of Nature”

10.  1-2 citations: PDF call “Rousseau’s Legacy in Two Conceptions of the General Will, Democratic and Transcendent”

11.  1-2 citations: PDF file call “Between Divine and Human Sovereignty: The State of nature and the Basis of Locke’s Political Thought”

12.  1 citation from the U.S. Constitution (look on Internet for U.S. Constitution)

13.  1 citation from the Declaration of Independence (look on Internet for Declaration of Independence)

14.  No citation from this webite; however, this website gives information on the Social Contract and Government: http://www(dot)constitution(dot)org/soclcont.htm.

15.  4 biblical scriptures

 

 

***Further Instructions on Assignment:

 

  1. There MUST be an Introduction that provides sufficient background on the topic, previews of major points, and thesis statement.
  2. There MUST be a Body present that is full of ideas and major points that flow in a logical sequence.
  3. Major points are stated clearly and are supported by professional literature and logic. Sources cited are appropriate in quality, quantity, and application to support all statements or contentions calling for support and the paper as a whole.
  4. Meaningful use of source material and analytical reasoning to elaborate upon the topic or theme.
  5. There MUST be a Conlcusion that logicially dervies from the papers ideas and reviews the major points toward the approrpaite audience.
  6. Ideas MUST flow in a logical sequence.
  7. The structure of the paper MUST be clear and easy to follow.
  8. Each paragraph transitions are present, logical, and direct the flow of thought throughtout the paper.
  9. The paper is laid out effectively and uses reader-friendly aids when appropriate.

10.  The paper follows current Turabian format guidelines.

11.  The work is original, giving credit to all borrowed ideas or quotations.

12.  Rules of grammar, usage, and punctuations are followed.

13.  Spelling is correct.

14.  Sentences are complete, clear, and concise.

15.  Sentences are well constructed with consistently strong and varied structure.

16.  Sentence transitions are present and direc the flow of thought.

17.  Words are precise and unambigious.

18.  Authoritative, persuasive, statesmanlike voice.

 

Please follow instructions above and grading rubric very thoroughly and carefully. Make sure this assignment has an Introduction, Body, and Conclusion.  Make sure to include a proper thesis statement in the Introduction. Must be formatted in current Turabian style and include a bibliography. Use appropriate headings. NO PLAGIARISM as I will check if it is OR not. DO NOT STRAY FROM WHAT THIS TOPIC IS ASKING; MAKE SURE TO COVER ALL AREAS BEING ASKED (ABOVE UNDER “THE RESEARCH PAPER TOPIC”). If you quote from a source and/or cite, please include the exact page number(s) at the end of the citation or in the footnotes. Remember, this is a graduate (Master’s) level assignment, so make sure that it is – Graduate level academic writing on this assignment is very important.

 

ONLY use the sources I’ve asked above, as they will be given to you.

 

Remember, you will be required to develop, explain, and offer defenses for anticipated challenges to the thesis of your paper. 

Research Paper Sample Content Preview:
The Social Contract Theory
Student:
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Course title:
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The Social Contract Theory
The notion of the social contract is traced back to Thomas Hobbes, but Jean-Jacques Rousseau and John Locke developed it in different ways. It is worth mentioning that the social contract theory is basically understood as the viewpoint that morality is purely based on uniform social agreements which serve the best interest of the ones that make the agreements. This paper explores the social contract theory and examines the development of the concept of government by social contract in the writing of Rousseau, Locke, and Hobbes. This essay analyzes what Locke found wrong in Hobbes’s account, what Rousseau found objectionable in Locke’s theory and the problems that remain in Rousseau’s social contract. Whether or not the notion of government by social contract makes sense is explained, as well as the best social contract that could be achieved.
The term social contract is applied to the political theories of Jean Rousseau 1712-78 from France; John Locke 1632-1704 from England; as well as Thomas Hobbes also from England 1588-1679. The social contract theory is essentially the viewpoint that the political and/or moral duties of people depend on an agreement or contract amongst them to create the society wherein they live. The notion of social contract makes sense since social contracts for decades have been used to structure the way governments and citizens worked together. Societies are generally controlled by their governments. Citizens benefit from living together within kingdoms, nations, or under some other forms of governmental oversight. Nonetheless, to live in society necessitates the creation of regulations and rules. Societies all over the world resulted from compromises. Social contracts, in essence, offer the framework for how governments and citizens interact, thus the notion of social contracts makes sense.
Thomas Hobbes
In Leviathan, Hobbes maintained that the contract holds amongst the people, who agree to relinquish their earlier unlimited, free rights of the brutish state of nature and to follow the rule of an absolute supreme ruler and her/his government. The citizens agree to give away their independence – their right to autonomy – to a monarch. The people relinquish their independence as well as their rights and then become subjects. Hobbes’ concept of social contract goes along with the social contract or covenant between God, Abraham, and the people of Israel of the Old Testament. God chose his people, and the Israelites were looked upon by their representatives or governors, who were actually under God through a constitution or social contract. God did not intend for men to be ruled by other men. God warned the people of Israel of how a king would rule over them. All through the Old Testament, Israel as a nation was only blessed when the people as well as their leaders submitted to God’s authority according to his covenant. This Biblical social contract was successful when Israelites and their leaders recognized God’s authority.
According to Hobbes, the monarch is actually not party to the contract but there appears to be something which is of ...
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