THE SOCIAL CONTRACT THEORY: HOBBES V.

ROUSSEAU AN ANALYSIS
The term social contract describes a broad class o !hiloso!hical theories "hose s#b$ect is the im!lied a%reeme&ts b' "hich !eo!le orm &atio&s a&d mai&tai& a social order. I& la'me&(s terms this mea&s that the !eo!le %i)e #! some o their ri%hts to a %o)er&me&t i& order to recei)e !rotectio& a&d social order. Social co&tract theor' !ro)ides the ratio&ale behi&d the historicall' im!orta&t &otio& that le%itimate state a#thorit' m#st be deri)ed rom the co&se&t o the %o)er&ed. The starti&% !oi&t or most o these theories is a& he#ristic e*ami&atio& o the h#ma& co&ditio& abse&t a&' social order+ termed the ,state o &at#re- or ,&at#ral state-. I& this state o bei&%+ a& i&di)id#al.s actio& is bo#&d o&l' b' his or her co&scie&ce. /rom this commo& starti&% !oi&t+ the )ario#s eat#res o social co&tract theor' attem!t to e*!lai&+ i& di ere&t "a's+ "h' it is i& a& i&di)id#al.s ratio&al sel 0i&terest to )ol#&taril' %i)e #! the reedom o actio& o&e has #&der the &at#ral state 1their so called ,&at#ral ri%hts-2 i& order to obtai& the be&e its !ro)ided b' the ormatio& o social str#ct#res. Commo& to all o these theories is the &otio& o a so)erei%& "ill "hich all members o a societ' are bo#&d b' the social co&tract to res!ect. The )ario#s t'!es o social co&tract theor' that ha)e de)elo!ed are lar%el' di ere&tiated b' their de i&itio& o the so)erei%& "ill+ be it a 3i&% 1mo&arch'2+ a Co#&cil 1oli%arch'2 or The 4a$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 that reedom 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& arti icial 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+ <oh& Loc7e 19:=>2+ a&d <ea&0<ac6#es Ro#ssea# 19?:@2 are the most amo#s !hiloso!hers o the social co&tract theor'+ "hich ormed the theoretical %ro#&d"or7 o democrac' . Altho#%h the theor' o &at#ral ri%hts i& l#e&ced the de)elo!me&t o classical liberalism+ its em!hasis o& i&di)id#alism a&d its re$ectio& o the &ecessit' to s#bordi&ate i&di)id#al libert' to the so)erei%& "ill sta&ds i& o!!ositio& to the %e&eral te&ets o social co&tract theor'. Accordi&% to Hobbes( theor'+ "itho#t societ'+ "e "o#ld li)e i& a state o &at#re1 a h'!othetical sit#atio& si&ce it ca&&ot be s#!!orted b' historical data2+ "here "e each ha)e #&limited &at#ral reedoms. The do"&side o this %e&eral a#to&om' is that it i&cl#des the Ari%ht to all thi&%sA a&d th#s the reedom to harm all "ho threate& o&e(s o"& sel 0!reser)atio&B there are &o !ositi)e ri%hts+ o&l' la"s o &at#re a&d a& e&dless A"ar o

all a%ai&st allA. I& other "ords+ a&'o&e i& the state o &at#re ca& do a&'thi&% he li7esB 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 or de)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#t i&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 de e&d the ri%hts o others+ %i)i&% #! some reedoms to do soB this alter&ati)e orm#latio& o the d#t' arisi&% rom the social co&tract is o te& ide&ti ied "ith militia+ or de e&se acti)it'. State of nature is a term i& !olitical !hiloso!h' #sed i& the social co&tract theories to describe the h'!othetical co&ditio& o h#ma&it' be ore 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& be ore 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 "or7 Leviathan. Hobbes described the co&ce!t i& the Lati& !hrase 8bellum omnium contra omnes.+ mea&i&% Athe "ar o all a%ai&st all.A I& this state a&' !erso& has a &at#ral ri%ht to do a&'thi&% to !reser)e their o"& libert' or sa et'. 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 de e&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 A"ar o e)er' ma& a%ai&st e)er' ma&A a&d ma7e li e Asolitar'+ !oor+ &ast'+ br#tish+ a&d short.A 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' <ea&0<ac6#es Ro#ssea#+ "ho claimed that Hobbes "as ta7i&% socialiCed !erso&s a&d sim!l' ima%i&i&% them li)i&% o#tside o the societ' i& "hich the' "ere raised. He a irmed i&stead that !eo!le "ere bor& !#re a&d %oodB me& 7&e" &either )ice &or )irt#e si&ce the' had almost &o deali&%s "ith each other. Their bad habits "ere the !rod#cts o ci)iliCatio& s!eci icall'

social hierarchies+ !ro!ert'+ a&d mar7ets Natural rights are 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 belie s. 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 $#sti icatio& 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!eci icall' created b' the %o)er&me&t or societ'+ or the be&e it o its citiCe&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& 9:D@. 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 9:DE. The State+ it &o" seemed to Hobbes+ mi%ht be re%arded as a %reat arti icial ma& or mo&ster+ com!osed o me&+ "ith a li e that mi%ht be traced rom its %e&eratio& #&der !ress#re o h#ma& &eeds to its dissol#tio& thro#%h ci)il stri e !roceedi&% rom h#ma& !assio&s. The "or7 "as closed "ith a %e&eral ARe)ie" a&d Co&cl#sio&A+ i& direct res!o&se to the "ar "hich raised the 6#estio& o the s#b$ect(s ri%ht to cha&%e alle%ia&ce "he& a ormer so)erei%&(s !o"er to !rotect "as irreco)erabl' %o&e. Also he criticiCed reli%io#s doctri&es o& ratio&alistic %ro#&ds i& the Commo&"ealth. Hobbes.s Le)iatha& had immediate e ects beca#se o its sec#lar &at#re a&d he had to a!!eal to the re)ol#tio&ar' E&%lish %o)er&me&t or !rotectio& "hich e*!lai&s his o&d&ess or mo&arch' a&d %ratit#de or ro'al !atro&a%e. Le)iatha& "as "ritte& d#ri&% the E&%lish Ci)il FarB m#ch o the boo7 is occ#!ied "ith demo&strati&% the &ecessit' o a stro&% ce&tral a#thorit' to a)oid the e)il o discord a&d ci)il "ar. A&' ab#ses o !o"er b' this a#thorit' are to be acce!ted as the !rice o !eace. I& !artic#lar+ the doctri&e o se!aratio& o !o"ers is re$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 ideas i& 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 li e #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 di er&et li est'les. This led him to "rite a amo#s boo7 o hia 7&o"& as Discourse on the Origin and Basis of

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 1the state o all other a&imals+ a&d the co&ditio& h#ma&7i&d "as i& be ore the creatio& o ci)iliCatio& a&d societ'2+ b#t is corr#!ted b' societ'. This idea has o te& led to the attrib#tio& to Ro#ssea# the idea o the &oble sa)a%e. He held that h#ma&s are %ood beca#se the' are sel 0s# icie&t a&d th#s &ot s#b$ect to the )ices o !olitical societ'. He )ie"ed societ' as arti icial 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&s ormatio& 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" sel 0a"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 to i&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. This ori%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&% A4a& 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.A 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 le t or the be&e its 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&e to 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&d remai& 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 the la". 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 citiCe&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&se a& im!leme&tatio& o Ro#ssea#(s ideas.

I& Thomas Hobbes boo7 Le)iatha&0 5arts O&e a&d T"o+ he !rese&ts a commo&"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 $#d%me&ts o the so)erei%& leader. The co&tract e*!lores the asocialit' o the h#ma& s!ecies a&d sel 0 !reser)atio& "hich is #&dame&tal to the h#ma& dri)e. I& l#e&ced b' Hobbes. social co&tract+ <ea& <ac6#es Ro#ssea# !#blished O& the Social Co&tract !rese&ti&% his theor' o the social co&tract that both e*!a&ded a&d di ered rom Hobbes. !ri&ci!les. Ro#ssea#.s social co&tract !rese&ted the %o)er&i&% actor to be the %e&eral "ill. Altho#%h Hobbes a&d Ro#ssea# ha)e di eri&% Social Co&tracts the' each are re!rese&ted b' the !hrase ,A 7i&%dom di)ided ca&&ot sta&dB- or+ the ormer is a re ere&ce to a mo&arch' a&d the latter is a re ere&ce to the %e&eral "ill. I& Hobbes. Le)iatha& he !rese&ts the asocialit' o h#ma& &at#re. Beca#se+ he &otes+ h#ma& 7i&d is e6#al i& both the bod' a&d the mi&d+ me& are i& a co&sta&t state o "ar "ith o&e a&other. /or+ rom e6#alit' arises the desire to attai& o#r %oals+ "hich leads to com!etitio& bet"ee& me& "ho are see7i&% the same e&d. Th#s+ o#t o e6#alit' de)elo!s di ide&ce a&d "ar. I& this state o "ar me& li)e "itho#t a&' commo& !o"er a&d th#s+ ,e)er' ma& is e&em' to e)er' ma&-. Their o&l' sec#rit' is their stre&%th com!o#&ded "ith the stre&%th o their associates. Beca#se ma& has &o commo& stre&%th or !o"er+ there are &o %o)er&i&% la"sB he&ce+ there are &o i&$#stices. Accordi&%l'+ there is &o !lace i& the state o "ar or ri%hts a&d "ro&%s. Hobbes &otes+ ,/orce a&d ra#d are i& "ar the t"o cardi&al )irt#es-+ both o these )irt#es are #&$#st. He co&cl#des that the o&l' moti)atio& ma& has to see7 !eace is the ear o the co&se6#e&ces o "ar. The moti)atio& o ear does &ot co&&ote social te&de&cies o the h#ma& s!ecie to aid o&e a&otherB i&stead+ it clearl' &otes h#ma&7i&d.s sel ish disre%ard o each other. I& additio& to h#ma&7i&ds. te&de&c' to"ards asocialit'+ Hobbes !rese&ts !eo!le as bei&% i&cli&ed to"ards sel 0!reser)atio& abo)e all other co&cer&s. The theme o sel 0 !reser)atio& is !rese&ted i& "hat Hobbes calls the ri%ht o &at#re. He e*!lai&s this #&dame&tal co&ce!t to be+ ,the libert' each ma& has to #se his o"& !o"er+ as he "ill himsel + or the !reser)atio& o his o"& &at#re0 that is to sa'+ o his o"& li e-+ mea&i&% that a&' ma& ca& %o to "hate)er le&%ths &ecessar' i& order to !reser)e his o"& li e. /#rthermore+ a& additio&al la" o &at#re &otes that+ as a %e&eral r#le+ a ma& is !rohibited rom beha)i&% i& a ma&&er that is destr#cti)e to his li e. Hobbes also s#!!orts "hat the Christia& bible has e&titled ,the %olde& r#le+- or the declaratio& that o&e sho#ld beha)e+ as he or she "o#ld "ish to be treated. This is a la" o sel 0!reser)atio& "hich+ i arde&tl' ollo"ed+ "o#ld %reatl' i&crease !eace. Yet+ the %olde& r#le is &ot o te& ollo"ed i& the state o "arB or+ o&e is disi&terested i& a&' other ma&.s desires besides his o"&. Th#s accordi&% to Hobbes+ i& a state o "ar ma& is allo"ed to beha)e i& a&' ma&&er he "ishesB ho"e)er+ his !rimar' i&terest a&d &at#ral %#ide are the r#les o sel 0!reser)atio&. Both h#ma&7i&ds. &at#re o asocialit' a&d te&de&c' to"ards sel 0!reser)atio& are i&cor!orated i&to Thomas Hobbes. social co&tract. His social co&tract !rese&ts a

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!eci ic r#les o co&d#ct. First+ the s#b$ects are bo#&d to mai&tai& the same orm o the %o)er&me&t. The' ca&&ot la" #ll' ma7e a &e" co)e&a&t amo&% themsel)esB &or+ ca& the' brea7 their co)e&a&t to the so)erei%& i& a&' orm. /or+ i o&e ma& disse&ts all o the other s#b$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&tacted b' 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$ect is &e)er e&do"ed "ith the !o"er to !#&ish the so)erei%&. Fourth+ the roll o the so)erei%& is to !er orm "hate)er is &ecessar' i& order to mai&tai& a state o !eace a&d to de e&d or all o his s#b$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 li e. /#rthermore+ he has the ri%ht to declare !eace or "ar. Lastly+ he de)elo!s a hierarch' "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&trolB or he belie)ed+ ,a 7i&%dom di)ided i& itsel ca&&ot sta&d-. He reco%&iCed that o te& the dissol#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 de i&iti)e r#ler or social code. Hissol#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' <ea&0 <ac6#es Ro#ssea# e&titled O& the Social Co&tract. At the o&set o his boo7+ Ro#ssea# !rese&ts the #&dame&tal !roblem or "hich he has de)elo!ed his social co&tract: /i&d a orm o associatio& "hich de e&ds a&d !rotects "ith all commo& orces the !erso& a&d %oods o each associate+ a&d b' mea&s o "hich each o&e+ "hile #&iti&% "ith all+ &e)ertheless obe's o&l' himsel a&d remai&s as ree as be ore. Ro#ssea# !rese&ts the !redicame&t o a& associatio&+ "hich !rotects each associate+ "hile heedi&% the commo& %ood+ 'et still obe's each associate.s $#d%me&t a&d "ill. To this he !ro!oses a social co&tract+ "hich is com!osed o cla#ses de i&ed b' the &at#re o the act. These cla#ses are %e&erall' acce!ted a&d th#s s!ro#t rom o&e.s reaso&i&%. A )iolatio& o this social co&tract leads to each !erso& re%ai&i&% their libert' established !rior to that associatio&+ b#t losi&% the libert' the associatio& !ro)ided. Ro#ssea# #rther sim!li ies his social co&tract b' e*!lai&i&% that these cla#ses are red#cible to o&e cla#se. This sim!li ied cla#se states that the ma& "ho breeches the

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 "illB a&d as 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 di ere&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 "ar a&d di ide&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&e bet"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 di er. /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 more ca!able o reaso&i&% the !#blic.s 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'. Hes!ite this di ere&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 #&i ies the 7i&%dom di ere&tl'. /or+ accordi&% to Ro#ssea#+ the #&it' o the citiCe&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 o their #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&aliCe 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&sB '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 !er ect.

The di ere&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 di ere&ce bet"ee& Hobbes a&d Ro#ssea#Is )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& a moral e6#alit' o sa)a%er'. Ro#ssea#Is )ie"!oi&t #rther di ers 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' sel ish&ess a&d Ro#ssea# claims that the &at#ral me& are moti)ated b' sel 0lo)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 sel 0lo)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. There ore the &otio&s ,sel ish- 1Hobbes2 a&d ,sel 0lo)e- 1Ro#ssea#2 ha)e to be see& i& a di ere&t "a'. I& co&trast to Ro#ssea#+ Hobbes describes the li e o ma& as !oor+ &ast'+ br#tish+ a&d shortB there ore+ the !eo!le are i& co&sta&t com!etitio& amo&%st o&e a&other+ a&d their o"& s#r)i)al a&d "ell bei&% is more im!orta&t tha& the "ell0bei&% o others. I& Ro#ssea#Is )ie" the i&di)id#al !erso& em!athiCes "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& become e&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 be ore+ Ro#ssea# mai&tai&s+ that there comes a !oi&t at "hich the !eo!le ide&ti ' that m#t#all' be&e icial coordi&atio& is !ossible. As h#ma& bei&%s are de!e&de&t o& 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& di ere&ce i& Hobbes a&d Ro#ssea#I 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&e icial 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#alsB 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 direct democrac' ma7i&% the !eo!le the so)erei%& "hereas i& Hobbes.s theor' the so)erei%& is the 7i&% or the mo&arch. Ro#ssea# !romotes !o!#lar so)erei%&t'.

I& Hobbes.s 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 the collecti)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 a ter 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 di ere&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& Hobbes.s 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 Hobbes.s 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. Hobbes.s theor' allo"s the !eo!le to ha)e a ri%ht to resist the a#thorit' o the so)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 the state "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& Hobbes.s 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' di ere&t the' are also similar i& ma&' "a's. Some critics &ote that Ro#ssea#.s theor' is based o& Hobbes.s a&d <oh& Loc7e.s theor' o social co&tract. Others %o #rther to describe Ro#ssea#.s co&ce!t o !olitical so)erei%&t' as Hobbes.s Le)iatha& "ith its head cho!!ed o .

RE/ERENCES

9. The social co&tract theorists K Critical essa's o& Hobbes+ Loc7e+ a&d Ro#ssea#B edited b' Christo!her F. 4orrisB La&ham+ Bo#lder+ Ne" Yor7+ O* ord: Ro"ma& L Little ield 5#blishers+ I&c. @. Hobbes+ Thomas 19:;9 M9>EDN2: Le)iatha& K edited b' A. R. FallerB Cambrid%e: at the U&i)ersit' 5ress O. Ro#ssea#+ <ea&0<a6#es 19>=D M9?;;N2: A Hisco#rse o& I&e6#alit'B tra&slated "ith a& i&trod#ctio& a&d &otes b' 4a#rice Cra&sto&B 5e&%#i& Boo7 D. 5ri&ci!les o 5olitical Scie&ce K A.C. 3a!#r+ !#blished b' S. Cha&d