Question

Answer each of the following questions as comprehensively as possible and in your own words, supporting your answers with the readings (citing where appropriate). Write in complete sentences.

1. According to some antigovernment groups, what is the principle reason that we establish governments?

2. Why does Hobbes refer to the government as a "leviathan"? Why does Hobbes think that we are equal both physically and intellectually in the state of nature?

3. What are the three causes of quarrel in the state of nature? What examples does Hobbes give to prove his gloomy description of human nature?

4. What are the first three laws of nature? According to Hobbes, why can't we overthrow governments? What are the two features of Hobbes's account of morality?

5. What is the state of nature like according to Pufendorf , Locke, and Rousseau, respectively?

6. In Hobbes's attempt to scientifically redefine traditional moral vocabulary, what does he mean when he says that the laws of nature are "immutable and eternal"?

7. According to Locke, when do we tacitly agree to a social contract?

8. According to Hume, how do governments trick us into accepting authority?

9. What is the "original position" for Rawls? What does Rawls's first rule of justice tell us? And, according to Rawls's second rule of justice, what is the main rule by which we regulate the unequal accumulation of wealth and power?

10. Explain the difference between occurrent and dispositional mental states. What is the difference between consenting to a social contract and being content with social reciprocity?

Answer 1

1) According to anti-government groups, the principle reason that we establish governments is to exercise a range of tasks from providing protection from foreign invasion to addressing economic concerns such as the national debt. This follows the philosophy of social contract theory.

2) Hobbes viewed the government as the king, who looked over the people and called it “Leviathan”. For him, this powerful governing body that we establish for protection is like the “Leviathan,” a large mythological sea creature as depicted in the Hebrew Bible. He believed that factor of ego in human beings make us create a government for protection.

3) First, all desire essential resources that are limited in supply. For example, the basic necessities of food, clothing and shelter are common. Secondly, we are protective of our possessions and attack any plausible threat. An instance would be we tend to protect ourselves and our houses from robbers. Third, we attack others to preserve the reputation of being tough around people around us.

4) The first three laws of nature are: First, Every man ought to endeavour peace, as far as he has hope of obtaining it, and when he cannot obtain it, that he may seek and use all helps and advantages of war. [Leviathan, 14)] Second A man [should] be willing, when others are so too, as far-forth as for peace and defence of himself he shall think it necessary, to lay down this right to all things, and be contented with so much liberty against other men, as he would allow other men against himself. (Leviathan, 14) Third, “people perform their covenants made,” since our agreements are empty words if we do not keep them.

5) According to Pufendorf, he agrees with Hobbe’s on the ideology of government ensuring peace. But he feels that God sets the basic terms of social contract rather than people. John Locke believes the state of nature isn’t a condition of moral anarchy, it is an environment in which we have God-given natural rights to life, health, liberty, and possessions. As for Jean-Jacques Rousseau, he argues against Hobbes and says it is a condition of individual freedom in which creativity flourishes. (Fieser 100)

6) When Hobbes says the laws of nature are “immutable and eternal,” he means it is to the extent that they are required for preserving life through making peace.

7) According to Locke, if one obtains any possession or benefit from a government, then one has by force of law, agreed to abide by the rules of that government.

8) Hume argued that most people believe they were born into a condition of obedience. Our current rulers claim that many years ago an earlier generation of citizens tacitly consented to a specific government, and government today inherit that authority over their citizens.

9) The original position is a central feature of John Rawls's social contract account of justice, “justice as fairness,” set forth in “A theory of justice. It is designed to be a fair and impartial point of view that is to be adopted in our reasoning about fundamental principles of justice.

10) The difference between occurrent and dispositional mental states is that occurrent mental state occurs during a short and fixed period of time, and dispositional mental states are long-term and persistent. The difference between consenting to a social contract and being content with social reciprocity is that a contract involves a distinct mental act of consent that occurs at a distinct time.