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8/13/2019 2910336 the Social Contract The sgsory s s sfffffffffffffffffffff ffffffffffffffffffff

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THE SOCIAL CONTRACT THEORY: HOBBES V. ROUSSEAU

AN ANALYSIS

The term social contractdescribes a broad class o !hiloso!hical theories "hose

s#b$ect is the im!lied a%reeme&ts b' "hich !eo!le orm &atio&s a&d mai&tai& a socialorder. I& la'me&(s terms this mea&s that the !eo!le %i)e #! some o their ri%hts to a%o)er&me&t i& order to recei)e !rotectio& a&d social order. Social co&tract theor'

!ro)ides the ratio&ale behi&d the historicall' im!orta&t &otio& that le%itimate state

a#thorit' m#st be deri)ed rom the co&se&t o the %o)er&ed. The starti&% !oi&t or mosto these theories is a& he#ristic e*ami&atio& o the h#ma& co&ditio& abse&t a&' social

order+ termed the ,state o &at#re- or ,&at#ral state-. I& this state o bei&%+ a& i&di)id#als

actio& is bo#&d o&l' b' his or her co&scie&ce. /rom this commo& starti&% !oi&t+ the

)ario#s eat#res o social co&tract theor' attem!t to e*!lai&+ i& diere&t "a's+ "h' it is i&a& i&di)id#als ratio&al sel0i&terest to )ol#&taril' %i)e #! the reedom o actio& o&e has

#&der the &at#ral state 1their so called ,&at#ral ri%hts-2 i& order to obtai& the be&eits

!ro)ided b' the ormatio& o social str#ct#res.

Commo& to all o these theories is the &otio& o a so)erei%& "ill "hich allmembers o a societ' are bo#&d b' the social co&tract to res!ect. The )ario#s t'!es o

social co&tract theor' that ha)e de)elo!ed are lar%el' diere&tiated b' their dei&itio& o

the so)erei%& "ill+ be it a 3i&% 1mo&arch'2+ a Co#&cil 1oli%arch'2 or The 4a$orit'1re!#blic or democrac'2. U&der a theor' irst artic#lated b' 5lato+ members "ithi& a

societ' im!licitl' a%ree to the terms o the social co&tract b' their choice to sta' "ithi&

the societ' a&d recei)e !rotectio&. Th#s im!licit i& most orms o social co&tract is thatreedom o mo)eme&t is a #&dame&tal or &at#ral ri%ht "hich societ' ma' &ot

le%itimatel' re6#ire a& i&di)id#al to s#rre&der to the so)erei%& "ill.

The social co&tract theor' has some basic eat#res "here it sa's0 irstl'. State is

a& artiicial i&stit#tio& si%&i'i&% that it is a mea&s to a& e&d+ seco&dl'+ it is created b'h#ma& bei&%s "ith the hel! o a co&tract+ thirdl'+ the co&tract m#st be based o& the

co&se&t o o&e a&d all+ a&d lastl' that !rior to ormatio& o state me li)ed i& a

h'!othetical sit#atio& 7&o"& as 8state o &at#re.

Thomas Hobbes 19;92+ 2+ a&d


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all a%ai&st all. I& other "ords+ a&'o&e i& the state o &at#re ca& do a&'thi&% he li7es b#t

this also mea&s that a&'o&e ca& do a&'thi&% he li7es to a&'o&e else.the state o &at#re

accordi&% to Hobbes is !resocial a&d !re !olitical i& &at#re a&d there is &o sco!e orde)elo!me&t to ta7e !lace. To a)oid this+ "e $oi&tl' a%ree to a social co&tract b' "hich

"e each %ai& ci)il ri%hts i& ret#r& or s#b$ecti&% o#rsel)es to ci)il la" or to !olitical

a#thorit'. I& Hobbes( orm#latio&+ the so)erei%& !o"er is &ot a !art' o the co&tract b#ti&stead the so)erei%& is its creatio&+ a&d so is &ot bo#&d b' it. The comma&d o the

so)erei%& is la" a&d the co&tract is irre)ocable.

Alter&ati)el'+ some ha)e ar%#ed that "e %ai& ci)il ri%hts i& ret#r& or acce!ti&%

the obli%atio& to res!ect a&d dee&d the ri%hts o others+ %i)i&% #! some reedoms to doso this alter&ati)e orm#latio& o the d#t' arisi&% rom the social co&tract is ote&

ide&tiied "ith militia+ or dee&se acti)it'.

State of natureis a term i& !olitical !hiloso!h' #sed i& the social co&tract

theories to describe the h'!othetical co&ditio& o h#ma&it' beore the state(s o#&datio&

a&d its mo&o!ol' o& the le%itimate #se o !h'sical orce. I& a broader se&se+ a state o&at#re is the co&ditio& beore the r#le o !ositi)e la" a&d order comes i&to bei&%.

I& some )ersio&s o social co&tract theor'+ there are &o ri%hts i& the state o

&at#re+ o&l' reedoms+ a&d it is the co&tract that creates ri%hts a&d obli%atio&s. I& other)ersio&s the o!!osite occ#rs: the co&tract im!oses restrictio&s #!o& i&di)id#als that

c#rtail their &at#ral ri%hts.

Hobbes's philosophy

The co&ce!t o a state o &at#re "as irst !osited i& the 9?th ce&t#r' b' E&%lish

!hiloso!her Thomas Hobbes i& his amo#s "or7Leviathan. Hobbes described theco&ce!t i& the Lati& !hrase 8bellum omnium contra omnes+ mea&i&% the "ar o all

a%ai&st all. I& this state a&' !erso& has a &at#ral ri%ht to do a&'thi&% to !reser)e their

o"& libert' or saet'.

Hobbes belie)ed that h#ma& bei&%s i& a state o &at#re "o#ld beha)e "ith cr#elt'to"ards o&e a&other. Yet Hobbes ar%#ed that !eo!le had e)er' ri%ht to dee&d themsel)es

b' "hate)er mea&s &ecessar' i& the abse&ce o order. He belie)ed that s#ch a co&ditio&

"o#ld lead to a "ar o e)er' ma& a%ai&st e)er' ma& a&d ma7e lie solitar'+ !oor+&ast'+ br#tish+ a&d short. He belie)ed that i& the i&ter&atio&al are&a+ states beha)e as

i&di)id#als do i& a state o &at#re.

Rousseau's theory

Hobbes(s )ie" "as challe&%ed i& the 9=th ce&t#r' b'


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social hierarchies+ !ro!ert'+ a&d mar7ets

Natural rightsare those #&i)ersal ri%hts that are see& as i&here&t i& the &at#re o

!eo!le a&d &ot co&ti&%e&t o& h#ma& actio&s or belies.

O&e theor' o &at#ral ri%hts "as de)elo!ed rom the theor' o &at#ral la" d#ri&%the 8E&li%hte&me&t i& o!!ositio& to the di)i&e ri%ht o 7i&%s+ a&d !ro)ided a moral

$#stiicatio& or liberalism.

The co&ce!t o &at#ral ri%hts ca& be co&trasted "ith the co&ce!t o a le%al ri%hts:

A &at#ral ri%ht is o&e that is claimed to e*ist e)e& "he& it is &ot e&orced b' the%o)er&me&t or societ' as a "hole+ "hereas a le%al ri%ht is a ri%ht s!eciicall' created b'

the %o)er&me&t or societ'+ or the be&eit o its citie&s.

Thomas Hobbes "as a& E&%lish !hiloso!her "ho i&l#e&ced &earl' all "ester&!olitical !hiloso!h'. He is best 7&o"& or his co&trib#tio& to the social co&tract theor' o

ori%i& o state. Hobbes "as %reatl' i&l#e&ced i& his ideas b' the E&%lish ci)il "ar that

bro7e o#t i& 9D@.

This led Hobbes to !rod#ce a boo7 to set orth his theor' o ci)il %o)er&me&t i&relatio& to the !olitical crisis res#lti&% rom the "ar. It "as based o& a& #&!#blished

treatise o 9D. The State+ it &o" seemed to Hobbes+ mi%ht be re%arded as a %reat

artiicial ma& or mo&ster+ com!osed o me&+ "ith a lie that mi%ht be traced rom its%e&eratio& #&der !ress#re o h#ma& &eeds to its dissol#tio& thro#%h ci)il strie

!roceedi&% rom h#ma& !assio&s. The "or7 "as closed "ith a %e&eral Re)ie" a&d

Co&cl#sio&+ i& direct res!o&se to the "ar "hich raised the 6#estio& o the s#b$ect(s ri%htto cha&%e alle%ia&ce "he& a ormer so)erei%&(s !o"er to !rotect "as irreco)erabl' %o&e.Also he criticied reli%io#s doctri&es o& ratio&alistic %ro#&ds i& the Commo&"ealth.

Hobbess Le)iatha& had immediate eects beca#se o its sec#lar &at#re a&d he

had to a!!eal to the re)ol#tio&ar' E&%lish %o)er&me&t or !rotectio& "hich e*!lai&s hiso&d&ess or mo&arch' a&d %ratit#de or ro'al !atro&a%e. Le)iatha& "as "ritte& d#ri&%

the E&%lish Ci)il Far m#ch o the boo7 is occ#!ied "ith demo&strati&% the &ecessit' o

a stro&% ce&tral a#thorit' to a)oid the e)il o discord a&d ci)il "ar. A&' ab#ses o !o"er

b' this a#thorit' are to be acce!ted as the !rice o !eace. I& !artic#lar+ the doctri&e ose!aratio& o !o"ers is re$ected : the so)erei%& m#st co&trol ci)il+ militar'+ $#dicial a&d

ecclesiastical !o"ers. Hobbes e*!licitl' states that the so)erei%& has a#thorit' to assert!o"er o)er matters o aith a&d doctri&e+ a&d that i he does &ot do so+ he i&)ites discord.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau"as a Ge&e)a& !hiloso!her "hose !olitical ideasi&l#e&ced the /re&ch Re)ol#tio&+ the de)elo!me&t o socialist theor'+ a&d the %ro"th o

&atio&alism. Ro#ssea# had li)ed a !oor lie #ll o hardshi! a&d tra)elled all o)er

obser)i&% the i&e6#alities amo&% the rich a&d !oor a&d the dier&et liest'les. This ledhim to "rite a amo#s boo7 o hia 7&o"& asDiscourse on the Origin and Basis of


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Inequality Among Men.

Ro#ssea# sa" a #&dame&tal di)ide bet"ee& societ' a&d h#ma& &at#re. He

co&te&ded that ma& "as &either i&here&tl' %ood &or bad "he& i& the state o &at#re 1thestate o all other a&imals+ a&d the co&ditio& h#ma&7i&d "as i& beore the creatio& o

ci)iliatio& a&d societ'2+ b#t is corr#!ted b' societ'. This idea has ote& led to theattrib#tio& to Ro#ssea# the idea o the &oble sa)a%e. He held that h#ma&s are %ood

beca#se the' are sel0s#icie&t a&d th#s &ot s#b$ect to the )ices o !olitical societ'. He)ie"ed societ' as artiicial a&d held that the de)elo!me&t o societ'+ es!eciall' the

%ro"th o social i&terde!e&de&ce+ has bee& i&imical to the "ell0bei&% o h#ma& bei&%s.

He claims that as h#ma&s "ere orced to associate to%ether more closel' b' the!ress#re o !o!#latio& %ro"th+ the' #&der"e&t a !s'cholo%ical tra&sormatio& a&d came

to )al#e the %ood o!i&io& o others as a& esse&tial com!o&e&t o their o"& "ell0bei&%.

Ro#ssea# associated this &e" sel0a"are&ess "ith a %olde& a%e o h#ma& lo#rishi&%.

Ho"e)er+ the de)elo!me&t o a%ric#lt#re+ metall#r%'+ !ri)ate !ro!ert'+ a&d the di)isio& o

labor led to h#ma&s becomi&% i&creasi&%l' de!e&de&t o& o&e a&other+ a&d led toi&e6#alit'. The res#lti&% state o co&lict led Ro#ssea# to s#%%est that the irst state "as

i&)e&ted as a 7i&d o social co&tract made at the s#%%estio& o the rich a&d !o"er#l. Thisori%i&al co&tract "as dee!l' la"ed as the "ealthiest a&d most !o"er#l members o

societ' tric7ed the %e&eral !o!#latio&+ a&d th#s i&stit#ted i&e6#alit' as a #&dame&tal

eat#re o h#ma& societ'. Ro#ssea#(s o"& co&ce!tio& o the social co&tract ca& be#&derstood as a& alter&ati)e to this orm o associatio&.

I& his amo#s "or7 The Social Co&tract he be%i&s b' sa'i&% 4a& is bor& ree+

a&d e)er'"here he is i& chai&s. O&e ma& thi&7s himsel the master o others+ b#t remai&s

more o a sla)e tha& the' are. Ro#ssea# claimed that the state o &at#re "as a !rimiti)e

co&ditio& "itho#t la" or moralit'+ "hich h#ma& bei&%s let or the be&eits a&d &ecessit'o coo!eratio&. As societ' de)elo!ed+ di)isio& o labo#r a&d !ri)ate !ro!ert' re6#ired the

h#ma& race to ado!t i&stit#tio&s o la". I& the de%e&erate !hase o societ'+ ma& is !ro&eto be i& re6#e&t com!etitio& "ith his ello" me& "hile at the same time becomi&%

i&creasi&%l' de!e&de&t o& them. This do#ble !ress#re threate&s both his s#r)i)al a&d his

reedom. Accordi&% to Ro#ssea#+ b' $oi&i&% to%ether thro#%h the social co&tract a&d

aba&do&i&% their claims o &at#ral ri%ht+ i&di)id#als ca& both !reser)e themsel)es a&dremai& ree. This is beca#se s#bmissio& to the a#thorit' o the %e&eral "ill o the !eo!le

as a "hole %#ara&tees i&di)id#als a%ai&st bei&% s#bordi&ated to the "ills o others a&d

also e&s#res that the' obe' themsel)es beca#se the' are+ collecti)el'+ the a#thors o thela".

Fhile Ro#ssea# ar%#es that so)erei%&t' sho#ld be i& the ha&ds o the !eo!le+ he

also ma7es a shar! disti&ctio& bet"ee& so)erei%& a&d %o)er&me&t. The %o)er&me&t is

char%ed "ith im!leme&ti&% a&d e&orci&% the %e&eral "ill a&d is com!osed o a smaller%ro#! o citie&s+ 7&o"& as ma%istrates. Ro#ssea#(s ideas "ere i&l#e&tial at the time o

the /re&ch Re)ol#tio& altho#%h+ si&ce !o!#lar so)erei%&t' "as e*ercised thro#%h

re!rese&tati)es rather tha& directl'+ it ca&&ot be said that the Re)ol#tio& "as i& a&' se&sea& im!leme&tatio& o Ro#ssea#(s ideas.


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I& Thomas Hobbes boo7 Le)iatha&0 5arts O&e a&d T"o+ he !rese&ts acommo&"ealth r#led b' a so)erei%& leader that is based o& the la"s o &at#re a&d the

7i&%dom o God. At the root o the commo&"ealth is a social co&tract+ "hich is a

co)e&a&t bi&di&% the i&di)id#als o the societ' to "ills a&d $#d%me&ts o the so)erei%&leader. The co&tract e*!lores the asocialit' o the h#ma& s!ecies a&d sel0 !reser)atio&

"hich is #&dame&tal to the h#ma& dri)e. I&l#e&ced b' Hobbes social co&tract+


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commo&"ealth i& "hich there is o&e so)erei%& leader+ to "hich all o his s#b$ects ha)e

!led%ed a co)e&a&t to s#rre&der their $#d%me&ts to those "ills a&d $#d%me&ts o the

so)erei%&. The co)e&a&t bet"ee& the s#b$ects a&d the so)erei%& e&tails )er' s!eciicr#les o co&d#ct. First+ the s#b$ects are bo#&d to mai&tai& the same orm o the

%o)er&me&t. The' ca&&ot la"#ll' ma7e a &e" co)e&a&t amo&% themsel)es &or+ ca&

the' brea7 their co)e&a&t to the so)erei%& i& a&' orm. /or+ i o&e ma& disse&ts all o theother s#b$ects sho#ld lea)e the commo&"ealth a&d ret#r& to a state o "ar+ b#t this is a

%reat i&$#stice. I& additio&+ the' ca&&ot tr' to re!lace their co)e&a&t to the so)erei%& "ith

a co)e&a&t to God+ or a co)e&a&t "ith God m#st be a lie+ #&less a s#b$ect "as co&tactedb' God+ himsel+ "hich+ o&e m#st admit+ is hi%hl' #&li7el'. Second+ a so)erei%& ca&&ot

brea7 the co)e&a&t "ith his s#b$ects. Th#s+ &o&e o his s#b$ects ca& be reed rom his

discretio& a&d "ill. Third+ the s#b$ect is &e)er e&do"ed "ith the !o"er to !#&ish the

so)erei%&. Fourth+ the roll o the so)erei%& is to !erorm "hate)er is &ecessar' i& orderto mai&tai& a state o !eace a&d to dee&d or all o his s#b$ects. Also+ the so)erei%&

determi&es "hat doctri&es are a!!ro!riate to teach his s#b$ects. Fifth+ the so)erei%& is

e&do"ed "ith the ri%ht to create %o)er&i&% r#les. Accordi&% to s#ch r#les+ s#b$ects m#st

lead his lie. /#rthermore+ he has the ri%ht to declare !eace or "ar.Lastly+ he de)elo!s ahierarch' "ithi& the s#b$ects+ !e&di&% o& their le)el o ho&or. Th#s+ the so)erei%& has

#ltimate co&trol.

Hobbes belie)ed that the so)erei%& r#ler m#st be e&do"ed "ith #tter co&trol or

he belie)ed+ ,a 7i&%dom di)ided i& itsel ca&&ot sta&d-. He reco%&ied that ote& thedissol#tio& o a commo&"ealth occ#rs d#e to the di)isio& o the so)erei%& !o"er. /or

i&sta&ce+ i t"o states $oi& to%ether+ 'et each mai&tai&s their !re)io#s r#lers+ the s#b$ects

"ill &e)er ha)e a dei&iti)e r#ler or social code. issol#tio& o the commo&"ealth is also

s!#rred b' ab#se o !o"er+ mo&o!olies+ co&6#eri&% o a state d#ri&% "artime+ a&d !ri)ate$#d%me&ts o %ood a&d e)il. Altho#%h it is al"a's a& i&$#stice i a s#b$ect 6#estio&s the

r#li&%s o the so)erei%&+ Hobbes occasio&all' ac7&o"led%es that it is &ecessar'. Th#s the

!remise o Hobbes social co&tract lies i& a si&%le leader "ith e&tirel' obedie&t s#b$ects.

It is clear that Hobbes Le)iatha& i&l#e&ced the social co&tract !#t orth b'


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co&tract rom each associate i& the comm#&it'+ shall i&c#r alie&atio& rom all associates.

Ro#ssea# i&all' co&de&ses his social co&tract i&to o&e stateme&t: ,Each o #s !laces his

!erso& a&d all his !o"er i& commo& #&der the s#!reme directio& o the %e&eral "ill a&das o&e "e recei)e each member as a& i&di)isible !art o the "hole-. Ro#ssea# is

co&cl#di&% that each ma& !laces his !o"er #&der the co&trol o the %e&eral "ill or the

bala&ce o the s#m o !ri)ate "ills "ith the s#m o %e&eral i&terests.

The lar%est diere&ce bet"ee& Ro#ssea#s social co&tract a&d Hobbes is the state

o &at#re. /or+ as !re)io#sl' stated+ Hobbes state o &at#re bet"ee& me& "as that o "ara&d diide&ce. Additio&all'+ Hobbes belie)es that social order is a state o &at#re. Yet+

Ro#ssea# di)erts rom Hobbes o& this matter. At the o&set o his boo7+ Ro#ssea# &otes

that altho#%h the social order is sacred it is &ot a &at#ral order. Also+ Ro#ssea# e*!lai&s

that the state o "ar ca&&ot e*ist solel' bet"ee& i&di)id#als+ b#t a !ri)ate "ar is o&ebet"ee& t"o states. I& s#ch a case+ i&di)id#als are e&emies o&l' d#e to the &at#re o "ar+

&ot d#e to the &at#re o ma&7i&d. This %a! is the !rimar' reaso& that Ro#ssea# a&d

Hobbes social co&tracts dier. /or+ Hobbes social co&tract is !e&de&t o& the &at#ral+

!er!et#al state o "ar bet"ee& me&. Beca#se o s#ch a state+ Hobbes eels that it is&ecessar' to im!leme&t the stro&%est orm o %o)er&me&t+ 4o&arch'. Accordi&%l'+

beca#se Ro#ssea# does &ot belie)e i& this &at#ral state o "ar+ he i&ds the !eo!le moreca!able o reaso&i&% the !#blics best i&terest. Th#s+ he relies o& the %e&eral "ill o all to

determi&e the actio&s o the %o)er&i&% bod'.

es!ite this diere&ce+ Ro#ssea#s social co&tract is )er' similar to that o

Hobbes. The' each are rooted i& the !ri&ci!le o ,a di)ided 7i&%dom ca&&ot sta&d.- It is

clear that Hobbes social co&tract #!holds said !ri&ci!le or it is based o& the !remise o

the o&e so)erei%& leader. Additio&all'+ Ro#ssea#s social co&tract #&iies the 7i&%domdiere&tl'. /or+ accordi&% to Ro#ssea#+ the #&it' o the citie&s lies i& their %e&eral "ill.

Th#s+ the %o)er&me&t "ill act i& a ma&&er a)orable to the %e&eral "ill a&d accordi&%l'+

the !#blic is #&ited.

Hobbes Le)iatha&: 5arts O&e a&d T"o+ !rese&ts a moral code o co&d#ct

established thro#%h !r#de&ce a&d scie&ce. His !ro!osed commo&"ealth attem!ts to!rotect me& rom o&e a&other b' #&i'i&% a %ro#! o s#b$ects #&der o&e so)erei%& leader.

His theor'+ ho"e)er+ does &ot acco#&t or !ote&tial l#&atic dictators "ho i&c#r mass

%e&ocide o& their !eo!le or de)elo! a state o di)ided classes+ "ith a& e*tremel'

im!o)erished lo"er class a&d a& #&&ecessaril' "ealth' #!!er class+ or o)erall mis#se otheir #ltimate co&trol. Yet+ Ro#ssea#s social co&tract has its &e%ati)e !oi&ts too. As

Ro#ssea# admits+ the %e&eral !#blic does &ot ha)e the i&tellect#al ca!abilit' to

ratio&alie the %e&eral %ood. I&di)id#als ma' mai&tai& the best i&te&tio&s o determi&i&%the %e&eral "ill+ 'et each res!o&se "ill be s7e"ed. Th#s o&e &eeds to ta7e i&to acco#&t

o&l' their i&te&tio&s 'et+ it is im!ossible to accordi&%l' determi&e the %e&eral "ill.

He&ce+ &either Hobbes &or Ro#ssea#s social co&tract is !erect.


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The diere&ces a&d similarities bet"ee& Hobbes a&d Ro#ssea#s !ers!ecti)es o& the state

o &at#re.

The basic ass#m!tio& o both !hiloso!hers is that h#ma& bei&%s 0 i& the state o&at#re 0 are e6#al a&d ree. Ho"e)er+ there is a im!orta&t diere&ce bet"ee& Hobbes a&d

Ro#ssea#s )ie" b' co&sideri&% the actors "hich determi&e the e6#alit' o sa)a%e me&.

Hobbes ass#mes that the e6#alit' is solel' !h'sical+ ho"e)er+ Ro#ssea# belie)es also i& amoral e6#alit' o sa)a%er'. Ro#ssea#s )ie"!oi&t #rther diers rom Hobbes i& a

mber o !s'cholo%ical com!ositio&s+ altho#%h at irst )ie" 'o# ca& see a similarit' i&

their ass#m!tio&s. Hobbes s#%%ests that the !eo!le are %e&erall' moti)ated b' selish&essa&d Ro#ssea# claims that the &at#ral me& are moti)ated b' sel0lo)e. O& closer

e*ami&atio& Ro#ssea# co&siders o&e more h#ma& i&sti&ct+ i& !artic#lar ,5it'-.

Additio&all'+ he e&)isa%es a& idea o sel0lo)e+ as the sa)a%e ma& is s#icie&t to himsel

"ith the o&l' !erce!tio& or his tr#e &eeds+ !#r!oseless to h#rt others. Thereore the

&otio&s ,selish- 1Hobbes2 a&d ,sel0lo)e- 1Ro#ssea#2 ha)e to be see& i& a diere&t "a'.I& co&trast to Ro#ssea#+ Hobbes describes the lie o ma& as !oor+ &ast'+ br#tish+ a&d

short thereore+ the !eo!le are i& co&sta&t com!etitio& amo&%st o&e a&other+ a&d theiro"& s#r)i)al a&d "ell bei&% is more im!orta&t tha& the "ell0bei&% o others. I&

Ro#ssea#s )ie" the i&di)id#al !erso& em!athies "ith others o&e a&d heJher "o#ld&t

li7e to see a&other ma& h#rt. I& the ace o !h'sical dis!ositio&s+ the &at#ral ma& 7&o"s that e)er' other is

"illi&% to attac7 him+ Hobbes ar%#es. Fhereas+ Ro#ssea# belie)es i& a sa)a%e ma& is

"itho#t a&' &eed o his ello" me& a&d "itho#t a&' !assio& to assail them. /or i&sta&ce+

"he& the !oi&t comes "here t"o me&+ "a&t the same ob$ect+ Hobbes &at#ral me& becomee&emies o each other beca#se the' "ill tr' to ta7e "hat e)er the' ca& %et rom each

other. Ro#ssea# "o#ld ar%#e that me& come to !eace a&d hel! to%ether beca#se the!eo!le 7&o" the hi%her o"& #tilit'+ i their actio&s are coordi&ated.

The )ie" o& solel' moti)ated i&di)id#als b' their o"& lo&%0term i&terests+ i&

!rotecti&% their !erso&s a&d %oods+ is similar bet"ee& Hobbes a&d Ro#ssea#. B#t+ as

me&tio&ed beore+ Ro#ssea# mai&tai&s+ that there comes a !oi&t at "hich the !eo!le

ide&ti' that m#t#all' be&eicial coordi&atio& is !ossible. As h#ma& bei&%s are de!e&de&to& the actio&s o others+ it is co&se6#e&tl' i& his or her lo&%0term i&terests to coo!erate

"ith others. O&e ca& co&cl#de that the mai& diere&ce i& Hobbes a&d Ro#ssea# s )ie"

o& the so#rce o the state o &at#re+ is the a"are&ess o ,com!etitio& J "ar- or o,be&eicial coordi&atio& J !eace- b' &at#ral me&. I& other "ords+ Ro#ssea# ass#mes that

i& the state o &at#re there ca&&ot e*ist co&lict bet"ee& i&di)id#als ho"e)er+ i& the )ie"

o Hobbes+ there m#st be a "ar o all a%ai&st all.

I& Ro#ssea#s theor' the so)erei%& is created b' %e&eral "ill a&d it is a directdemocrac' ma7i&% the !eo!le the so)erei%& "hereas i& Hobbess theor' the so)erei%& is

the 7i&% or the mo&arch. Ro#ssea# !romotes !o!#lar so)erei%&t'.


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I& Hobbess theor' there is com!lete s#rre&der o ri%hts to the 7i&% altho#%h the

!eo!le ha)e the ri%ht to resista&ce the' ha)e &o other &at#ral ri%hts. I& Ro#ssea#s theor'

the !eo!le all ha)e e6#al ri%hts e)e& tho#%h the' do s#rre&der their ri%hts to thecollecti)el' ormed %o)er&me&t+ the' are %i)e& ri%hts b' the state. U&der Ro#ssea#s

theor' there is com!lete absor!tio& o the i&di)id#al i&to the state a&d societ' e&s#res

e6#alit' amo&% all as ater the' all s#rre&der their ri%hts e)er'o&e is e6#al a&d there are&o s!ecial !ri)ile%es.

A&other ma$or diere&ce i& the t"o theories is that Ro#ssea#s relies o& %e&eral"ill ta7i&% i&to acco#&t the )ie"!oi&t o each member o the collecti)e bod' "hereas the

3i&% i& Hobbess theor' is si&%#lar tho#%h the so)erei%& ma' be !l#ral b#t the "ord o

the 3i&% is the la". He is the sole a#thorit' "ith "hom all the !o"er rests.

U&der Hobbess theor' the so)erei%& a&d the %o)er&i&% a#thorit' is the !rod#ct o

a #&ilateral co&tract a&d ca&&ot be cha&%ed "hereas the so)erei%& i& Ro#ssea#s theor' is

the !eo!le o the &atio& a&d the %o)er&me&t ma' cha&%e b#t the %e&eral "ill remai&s the

same.

Hobbess theor' allo"s the !eo!le to ha)e a ri%ht to resist the a#thorit' o theso)erei%&. Accordi&% to him+ a !erso& ca& resist the so)erei%& i he is comma&ded to 7ill

or "o#&d himsel+ &ot to resist those "ho assa#lt him or to abstai& rom the #se o ood+

air+ medici&e or a&'thi&% "itho#t "hich he ca&&ot li)e. Ro#ssea#s theor' !#ts all me&o& e6#al ooti&% a&d si&ce the' are "or7i&% to"ards the %reater %ood o societ'+ the' do

&ot ha)e the ri%ht to resista&ce.

Also a&other !oi&t is that i& the theor' %i)e& b' Ro#ssea# the so)erei%& a&d thestate "or7 to"ards the de)elo!me&t o the societ' as a "hole+ la"s are $#st a&d made o&

air %ro#&ds b#t i& Hobbess theor' o&e sees that the 3i&% ma' become arbitrar' a&d

ma7e la"s to s#it himsel or to s#!!ress ri%hts o the !eo!le.

He&ce+ it is see& that tho#%h the t"o theories %i)e& b' s#ch %reat !olitical

thi&7ers are )er' diere&t the' are also similar i& ma&' "a's. Some critics &ote thatRo#ssea#s theor' is based o& Hobbess a&d


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RE/ERENCES

9. The social co&tract theorists K Critical essa's o& Hobbes+ Loc7e+ a&d Ro#ssea# edited

b' Christo!her F. 4orris La&ham+ Bo#lder+ Ne" Yor7+ O*ord: Ro"ma& Littleield5#blishers+ I&c.

@. Hobbes+ Thomas 19;9 M9>D2: Le)iatha& K edited b' A. R. Faller Cambrid%e: at the

U&i)ersit' 5ress

. Ro#ssea#+


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