JOHN LOCKEJOHN LOCKE

SOCIAL CONTRACT THEORIES SOCIAL CONTRACT THEORIES

ORIGINORIGIN

BIOGRAPHYBIOGRAPHY

POINTSPOINTS

A lot of philosophers tried to explain the origin of A lot of philosophers tried to explain the origin of society.society.

One of the most important philophers was LockeOne of the most important philophers was Locke He divided his study in three steps: He divided his study in three steps: - Human nature: how is the human - Human nature: how is the human

being if there is not society.being if there is not society. - Natural state: how humans lived in - Natural state: how humans lived in

the past when society didn’t existthe past when society didn’t exist Social contract: the “contract” humans “signed” Social contract: the “contract” humans “signed”

for living in society.for living in society.

LOKES’ BIOGRAPHYLOKES’ BIOGRAPHY

- He was born in Wrington the 29th of - He was born in Wrington the 29th of August, 1632.August, 1632.

- He studied natural sciences, medicine - He studied natural sciences, medicine and State’s theory.and State’s theory.

- In 1665 he began to work in diplomatic - In 1665 he began to work in diplomatic services.services.

- In 1667 he was the friend of an - In 1667 he was the friend of an important politician who gave him little jobs in the important politician who gave him little jobs in the government.government.

- In 1675 he had to leave his country.- In 1675 he had to leave his country. - In 1688 he returned to his country - In 1688 he returned to his country

because of England became the first because of England became the first CONSTITUCIONAL MONARQUY. In this period he CONSTITUCIONAL MONARQUY. In this period he became a big philosophical defence for liberalism became a big philosophical defence for liberalism and he became trade minister too, resigning that and he became trade minister too, resigning that post in 1700 because of a disease.post in 1700 because of a disease.

- He died in Oates, Essex the 28th of - He died in Oates, Essex the 28th of October, 1704.October, 1704.

- Major works:- Major works: - - A Letter Concerning A Letter Concerning

Toleration.Toleration. - - Two Treatises of Government.Two Treatises of Government. - - An Essay Concerning Human An Essay Concerning Human

Understanding.Understanding. - Some - Some Thoughts Concerning Thoughts Concerning

Education.Education.

HUMAN NATUREHUMAN NATURE

- Humans obey the MORAL LAW, which was DISCOVERED - Humans obey the MORAL LAW, which was DISCOVERED by REASON.by REASON.

- This law put limits to the behaviour and the conscience. - This law put limits to the behaviour and the conscience. THE LIMITS OF THIS FREEDOM BEGIN WHEN THE RIGHTS OF THE LIMITS OF THIS FREEDOM BEGIN WHEN THE RIGHTS OF OTHER HUMAN BEING ARE IN DANGER.OTHER HUMAN BEING ARE IN DANGER.

- IT DOESN’T MEAN ALL HUMAN BEINGS HAVE THE SAME - IT DOESN’T MEAN ALL HUMAN BEINGS HAVE THE SAME OBEDIENCE TO THIS LAW, human beings OBEY NATURAL LAW OBEDIENCE TO THIS LAW, human beings OBEY NATURAL LAW TOO.TOO.

- The majority of human being are good by nature, - The majority of human being are good by nature, because of this law.because of this law.

- It doesn’t mean humans help each other, they just try to - It doesn’t mean humans help each other, they just try to survive with some moral limits.survive with some moral limits.

WE CAN SEE THIS MORAL LAW IN OUR SOCIETY, WHICH WE CAN SEE THIS MORAL LAW IN OUR SOCIETY, WHICH CONSIDERED SOME THINGS GOOD AND SOME THINGS BAD. THE CONSIDERED SOME THINGS GOOD AND SOME THINGS BAD. THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE IS AGAISNT WARS AND OTHER CONFLICTS MAJORITY OF PEOPLE IS AGAISNT WARS AND OTHER CONFLICTS WHICH BREAK OTHER HUMAN RIGHTS. HUMANS CAN WHICH BREAK OTHER HUMAN RIGHTS. HUMANS CAN UNDERSTAND OTHER CULTURES AND TO RESPECT THEM. UNDERSTAND OTHER CULTURES AND TO RESPECT THEM. COMERCY WOULDN’T BE POSSIBLE IF ALL HUMANS DOESN’T COMERCY WOULDN’T BE POSSIBLE IF ALL HUMANS DOESN’T RESPECT THE PRIVATE PROPERTY AND OTHER HUMANS NATURAL RESPECT THE PRIVATE PROPERTY AND OTHER HUMANS NATURAL RIGHTS.RIGHTS.

STATE OF NATURE:STATE OF NATURE:

- It was a peaceful state, without big wars - It was a peaceful state, without big wars between all the humans but it has some problems between all the humans but it has some problems which are the reasons for the origin of the society:which are the reasons for the origin of the society:

- Human’s defence was difficult, it - Human’s defence was difficult, it wasn’t a safety state (not all humans respect wasn’t a safety state (not all humans respect moral law, and they only think in their own profit).moral law, and they only think in their own profit).

- To ensure the life, the freedom and - To ensure the life, the freedom and the property, human beings made an agreement to the property, human beings made an agreement to create a new social order which would be more create a new social order which would be more organized organized SOCIAL CONTRACT.SOCIAL CONTRACT.

IT’S LOGICAL TO CREATE A NEW SOCIAL ORDER TO IT’S LOGICAL TO CREATE A NEW SOCIAL ORDER TO IMPROVE THE STATE OF HUMAN BEINGS, FOR IMPROVE THE STATE OF HUMAN BEINGS, FOR PROTECTING HUMAN’S NATURAL RIGHTS FROM PROTECTING HUMAN’S NATURAL RIGHTS FROM PEOPLE WHICH DON’T OBEY THE MORAL LAW, PEOPLE WHICH DON’T OBEY THE MORAL LAW, MAKING THE LIFE EASIER FOR THEMMAKING THE LIFE EASIER FOR THEM

SOCIAL CONTRACT:SOCIAL CONTRACT: - With this contract humans try to - With this contract humans try to

improve their life, recognize the authority improve their life, recognize the authority of a LEADER, who MAKES NATURAL of a LEADER, who MAKES NATURAL RIGHTS TO BE RESPECTED.RIGHTS TO BE RESPECTED.

- Humans lose some rights which are - Humans lose some rights which are given to the leader who has to use it for given to the leader who has to use it for the benefit of the rest of the humans.the benefit of the rest of the humans.

- If the government tries to be more - If the government tries to be more powerful, being a bad leader who DOESN’T powerful, being a bad leader who DOESN’T RESPECT NATURAL RIGHTSRESPECT NATURAL RIGHTS SOCIAL SOCIAL CONTRACT WOULD BREAK and people CONTRACT WOULD BREAK and people have the right to REBEL AND DESTROY have the right to REBEL AND DESTROY THE GOVERNMENT.THE GOVERNMENT.

CONSEQUENCES OF THIS CONSEQUENCES OF THIS SOCIAL CONTRACT:SOCIAL CONTRACT:

- We live in a DEMOCRACY which defend the LIBERALISM - We live in a DEMOCRACY which defend the LIBERALISM (humans preserve the majority of their natural rights) so the (humans preserve the majority of their natural rights) so the power of the GOVERNMENT CAN END IF PEOPLE WANT THAT.power of the GOVERNMENT CAN END IF PEOPLE WANT THAT.

- We live in CAPITALISM to preserve the private property - We live in CAPITALISM to preserve the private property which in the natural state couldn’t be preserved.which in the natural state couldn’t be preserved.

- WE MUST PRESERVE THIS POLITICAL SYSTEM, it isn’t - WE MUST PRESERVE THIS POLITICAL SYSTEM, it isn’t perfect but step by step it’s becoming better: development of perfect but step by step it’s becoming better: development of technology, better life system…; if we return to natural state we technology, better life system…; if we return to natural state we will go back in evolution, we have to improve things not to leave will go back in evolution, we have to improve things not to leave them, IF WE RETURN BACK WE’LL LIVE UNSECURITY AND WITH them, IF WE RETURN BACK WE’LL LIVE UNSECURITY AND WITH OUR NATURAL RIGHTS IN DANGER AGAIN.OUR NATURAL RIGHTS IN DANGER AGAIN.

- IN DEMOCRACY PEOPLE IS HAPPIER because they have - IN DEMOCRACY PEOPLE IS HAPPIER because they have more liberties, a DICTATORSHIP isn’t the solution (compare more liberties, a DICTATORSHIP isn’t the solution (compare Spain during the dictatorship and Spain now) humans don’t Spain during the dictatorship and Spain now) humans don’t need to be scared of a strong leader to live in peace, they can need to be scared of a strong leader to live in peace, they can live in a political system where natural rights and liberties are live in a political system where natural rights and liberties are respected (the countries with a dictator are usually the poorest respected (the countries with a dictator are usually the poorest and where more wars there are, they aren’t as organized as and where more wars there are, they aren’t as organized as democratic States). Humans can live in peace between democratic States). Humans can live in peace between democratic states , Europe has preserved its peace since democratic states , Europe has preserved its peace since democracy arises there.democracy arises there.