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A Comparative Study Of Thomas Hobbes’s Social Contract With John Locke’s Social Contract In Their Political Philosophy
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1.3 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
It is worthy of note to
point out here clearly that the theory of social contract is not the
generality of the works of our two philosophers. For instance, Hobbes is
noted for his Leviathan, he has other works he wrote. The Leviathan is
primarily a book on social and political Philosophy; Hobbes had not
intended to restrict his attention to that subject caught up in the
ocean tide for scientific discovery. He was deeply impressed by the
precision of science and all by Certainty.5
On his own side, John
Locke wrote other works in addition to his social contract. Locke’s most
important and influential political writings are contained in his
Second Treatises of Government. The second treatise contains Locke’s own
constructive view of the aims and justification for civil government
and is titled, Essay concerning the true original extent and ends of
civil government.6
Locke’s books were the product of long years of
reading and reflection. As at fifty-four, he has not published something
of importance though he has written a good deal that remained in
manuscript. His letter on toleration appeared both in Latin and English
in 1689. His great essay concerning human understanding saw the light
of the day in 1690. And in the same year, he published the two treatises
of government.
Most importantly, it should be understood that this
project does not intend in any way to handle all the philosophical works
of these philosophers in view. The scope of this study is simply
limited to their theory of social contract. It does not tackle any other
issue outside this. That is to say that other philosophies postulated
by the philosophers are outside the scope of this work.
For a more
academic and scholarly work its scope extends to juxtaposing the
theories in order to discover certain points at which they agree and at
which they disagree.
1.4 METHODOLOGY
The
method of this research work shall be expository and analytical. I
intend to expose the different views of Thomas Hobbes and John Locke on
social contract. Since social contract theory does not mean exactly
the same thing to both of them. After the exposition of their thoughts, a
comparison and a contrast and critical evaluation will follow. Over and
above all, this research uses scholarly, academically and philosophical
method.
1.5 DIVISION OF WORK
This work is
divided into five chapters. Chapter one is an introduction to the work.
Chapter two is the historical background of the two philosophers.
Chapter three exposes their idea of social contract. Chapter four
compares and contrasts the ideas of both philosophers on the subject
matter. In Chapter five, social contract in Thomas Hobbes and John Locke
will be critically evaluated. Lastly the work is brought to a
conclusion.
1.5 LITERATURE REVIEW
Thomas Hobbes was the
first to give full exposition and defence of social contract. He does
not have the monopoly of the idea. Just as many ideas and theories of
philosophy have been used in different ways. Social contract theory has
also been used and applied differently. Here my effort is channelled
towards analyzing the concept, social contract as various philosophers
understood it. This literature review is a critical analysis of the
different notions of social contract. Philosophers to be reviewed
include Plato (ca428-ca348BC), Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274), and Jean
Jacques Rousseau (1712-17178).
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