Elizabeth Warren on the social contract

"There is nobody in this country who got rich on his "There is nobody in this country who got rich on his own – nobody. You built a factory out there? Good own – nobody. You built a factory out there? Good for you. But I want to be clear: You moved your for you. But I want to be clear: You moved your goods to market on the roads the rest of us paid for. goods to market on the roads the rest of us paid for. You hired workers the rest of us paid to educate. You hired workers the rest of us paid to educate. You were safe in your factory because of police-You were safe in your factory because of police-forces and fire-forces that the rest of us paid for. forces and fire-forces that the rest of us paid for. You didn't have to worry that marauding bands You didn't have to worry that marauding bands would come and seize everything at your factory - would come and seize everything at your factory - and hire someone to protect against this - because and hire someone to protect against this - because of the work the rest of us did. Now look, you built a of the work the rest of us did. Now look, you built a factory and it turned into something terrific, or a factory and it turned into something terrific, or a great idea. God bless - keep a big hunk of it. But part great idea. God bless - keep a big hunk of it. But part of the underlying of the underlying social contractsocial contract is, you take a hunk is, you take a hunk of that and pay forward for the next kid who comes of that and pay forward for the next kid who comes along."along." - Elizabeth Warren - Elizabeth Warren

What is a What is a social contractsocial contract??

Hobbes' PhilosophyHobbes' Philosophy

Human life is “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and Human life is “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.” Hobbes has a dim view of humanity.short.” Hobbes has a dim view of humanity.

In a In a state of naturestate of nature, human beings are , human beings are constantly at war with each other due to fear constantly at war with each other due to fear and greed.and greed.

Humans need a strong Humans need a strong sovereignsovereign (a ruler or (a ruler or state) to keep them secure and stable. People state) to keep them secure and stable. People agree to a agree to a social contractsocial contract with the sovereign in with the sovereign in order to ensure their safety and survival. They order to ensure their safety and survival. They sacrifice their own freedom for security.sacrifice their own freedom for security.

Locke's PhilosophyLocke's Philosophy

Humans are Humans are tabula rasatabula rasa, or “blank slates” at , or “blank slates” at birth – experiences determine a person's birth – experiences determine a person's character rather than nature.character rather than nature.

Human beings form social contracts between Human beings form social contracts between ruler and ruled, true, but not because they're ruler and ruled, true, but not because they're naturally wicked creatures who would kill each naturally wicked creatures who would kill each other without those contracts.other without those contracts.

People have a natural right to life, liberty, and People have a natural right to life, liberty, and property; government exists to secure those property; government exists to secure those rights.rights.

Locke's Philosophy, continuedLocke's Philosophy, continued

If a government fails to secure those rights or If a government fails to secure those rights or infringes upon them, then it has broken the infringes upon them, then it has broken the social contract and the people have the right to social contract and the people have the right to dissolve the government in response, in order dissolve the government in response, in order to form a new one better suited to their needs.to form a new one better suited to their needs.

Locke grounds his theories on government in Locke grounds his theories on government in rationalismrationalism; people are blank slates because all ; people are blank slates because all information is received through the senses. information is received through the senses. People need People need freedom of thoughtfreedom of thought, and , and government should be limited to protection government should be limited to protection functions in order to secure that freedom.functions in order to secure that freedom.

Hobbes and LockeHobbes and Locke

Both Hobbes and Locke used the concept of Both Hobbes and Locke used the concept of the state of nature – a theoretical state of the state of nature – a theoretical state of human beings without civilization – to illustrate human beings without civilization – to illustrate why social contracts originally formed. Both why social contracts originally formed. Both understood that without the structure of society, understood that without the structure of society, people were vulnerable to attack and theft.people were vulnerable to attack and theft.

Both used Both used secularsecular justifications for political justifications for political authority, rather than the religious mandate of authority, rather than the religious mandate of the “divine right of kings.” While not anti-the “divine right of kings.” While not anti-monarchy, they saw no reason to believe that monarchy, they saw no reason to believe that human rulers received their authority from God.human rulers received their authority from God.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778)Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778)

The Social Contract The Social Contract Vocabulary:Vocabulary:

Powers:Powers: Natural human abilities Natural human abilitiesWithout reservation:Without reservation: Freely, without limitation Freely, without limitationCorporate:Corporate: Of a collection of people Of a collection of peopleTacitly:Tacitly: Unspoken UnspokenCommensurable:Commensurable: Measurable by a common Measurable by a common standard; proportionatestandard; proportionateProprietorship:Proprietorship: Ownership, ability to control Ownership, ability to controlNatural liberty:Natural liberty: Freedom in the state of nature Freedom in the state of natureCivil liberty:Civil liberty: Freedom in the general will Freedom in the general willMoral liberty: Moral liberty: Freedom from selfish impulsesFreedom from selfish impulsesPossession:Possession: Ownership by force Ownership by forceProperty:Property: Ownership by right Ownership by right

What is Rousseau's idea of the What is Rousseau's idea of the social contract?social contract?

* What does one * What does one lose lose and what and what does onedoes one gain gain in Rousseau's social in Rousseau's social

contract?contract?

* How does Rousseau's idea of the * How does Rousseau's idea of the social contract social contract differdiffer from that of from that of

Hobbes or Locke?Hobbes or Locke?

Who makes the decisions in Who makes the decisions in Rousseau's model of society?Rousseau's model of society?

What is a What is a state of naturestate of nature??

* What does Rousseau have to say * What does Rousseau have to say about the state of nature?about the state of nature?

Is his view of the natural state of Is his view of the natural state of human beings any human beings any differentdifferent from from

Hobbes' or Locke's view?Hobbes' or Locke's view?

Which is more important to Which is more important to Rousseau – the Rousseau – the individualindividual or the or the

communitycommunity??

What is the What is the general willgeneral will??

* How do you deal with someone * How do you deal with someone who isn't obeying the general will in who isn't obeying the general will in

Rousseau's model?Rousseau's model?

What is What is freedomfreedom, according to , according to Rousseau?Rousseau?

* How does obedience to the * How does obedience to the general will give freedom?general will give freedom?

What is one free What is one free fromfrom in Rousseau's in Rousseau's model of the social contract?model of the social contract?

Charles Louis de Secondat de Charles Louis de Secondat de Montesquieu (1689-1755)Montesquieu (1689-1755)

The Spirit of LawsThe Spirit of Laws Vocabulary: Vocabulary:

Executive:Executive: The sovereign, the ruler of the The sovereign, the ruler of the governmentgovernmentLegislature:Legislature: The body of advisers who help The body of advisers who help the executive rulethe executive ruleEntertain:Entertain: Consider ConsiderEncroachment:Encroachment: Overstepping one's limits Overstepping one's limitsDespotic:Despotic: Tyrannical, power hungry Tyrannical, power hungry

What is the difference between What is the difference between executiveexecutive and and legislativelegislative power? power?

What does an executive What does an executive dodo??

* Why do you think Montesquieu * Why do you think Montesquieu believes that executive power believes that executive power

should be in the hands of a should be in the hands of a single single person?person?

Why should the executive be a Why should the executive be a monarchmonarch??

What does a legislative body What does a legislative body dodo??

* Why do you think Montesquieu * Why do you think Montesquieu believes that legislative power believes that legislative power

should be in the hands of should be in the hands of many many peoplepeople, rather than just one?, rather than just one?

What are some of the risks of What are some of the risks of having an having an executiveexecutive unchecked by a unchecked by a

legislature?legislature?

What are some of the risks of What are some of the risks of having a having a legislativelegislative body unchecked body unchecked

by an executive?by an executive?

* Why is it important for there to be * Why is it important for there to be a a separation of powersseparation of powers in in

government?government?

* Why do you think Hobbes, Locke, * Why do you think Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, and Montesquieu all Rousseau, and Montesquieu all

made their arguments in reference made their arguments in reference to to lawslaws??

What is the purpose of laws?What is the purpose of laws?

What is the relationship between What is the relationship between laws and the four themes of the laws and the four themes of the Enlightenment?Enlightenment?

RATIONALITYRATIONALITYFREEDOM OF THOUGHTFREEDOM OF THOUGHT PROGRESSPROGRESSHUMANITARIANISMHUMANITARIANISM