Social Contract and the Grounds of Political Obligation: Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, and Anarchist Critiques Introduction The question of political obligation — why individuals ought to obey the state — has occupied the center of political theory since the early modern period. The social contract tradition, represented by Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, offered … Continue reading Compare and contrast the social contract theories of Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau in terms of the grounds and limits of political obligation. Assess whether anarchist critiques (e.g., by Bakunin or Wolff) successfully undermine the very idea of political obligation, or merely call for its redefinition.
Tag: Hobbes social contract theory
How does Thomas Hobbes’ political philosophy reflect an individualist orientation, particularly in his conceptualization of the state, human nature, and the social contract within a framework of rational self-interest and political obligation?
Thomas Hobbes’ political philosophy, most notably articulated in Leviathan (1651), represents a foundational moment in the development of modern political individualism. Hobbes constructs a vision of political order grounded in a distinctly individualist ontology, wherein human beings are viewed as rational, self-interested agents. His conception of the state, the social contract, and political obligation all … Continue reading How does Thomas Hobbes’ political philosophy reflect an individualist orientation, particularly in his conceptualization of the state, human nature, and the social contract within a framework of rational self-interest and political obligation?