The History of Why

Concept

2 readings

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Social contract

Concept · 2 readings

Social-contract arguments test political authority through agreement or authorization. Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau differ over the parties, conditions and obligations involved.

All readings

2 readings · Title A–Z

  • Guided course · Module 9 · Lesson 53

    Freedom, inequality and a common will

    Rousseau traces how inequality grows and argues that citizens could remain free as joint authors of the law. A majority’s victory, the lesson warns, is not the same as the general will.

  • Guided course · Module 9 · Lesson 52

    Why should anyone obey a government?

    Hobbes and Locke disagree about the grounds and limits of political authority. A shared case tests their accounts of protection, consent, rights and resistance.