Social Contract Theory is an answer to the question of what justifies the existence of States and what their roles should be. With his version of Social Contract Theory, John Locke argued for the justification of Liberal States. Thomas Jefferson was tremendously influenced by Locke in writing the Declaration of Independence and described him as one the three greatest men ever to have lived (the other two being Francis Bacon and Isaac Newton).

• What does Locke mean by the following?:

The state of nature has a law of nature to govern it, which obliges everyone, and reason, which is that law, teaches all mankind, who will consult it, that being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions… (p. 12 in the reading)

• And how is the idea that Locke expresses here, and some of his other ideas, expressed in the following passage from the American Declaration of Independence?:

We hold these truths to be self-evident: That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that, to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; that whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness.

Ps. Some important clues will be given in class on Thursday.