The Social Contract According to Hobbes, Rousseau, Smith and Kants Opinions Free Essay Example, 1750 words

Government is "an intermediate body set up between the subjects and the Sovereign. " Government is simply a manifestation of the social contract and laws outline the practical application of the 'General Will' in every situation. According to Rousseau, the government is merely a practical expression of the ultimate sovereignty of the 'General Will' established in the social contract. Government is, "an intermediate body set up between the subjects and the Sovereign. "(The Social Contract, 3.16) Government is simply a manifestation of the social contract and laws outline the practical application of the 'General Will' in every situation. According to Rousseau, the government is merely a practical expression of the ultimate sovereignty of the 'General Will' established in the social contract. The citizens are bound contractually to one another and the product of this union is the sovereign 'General Will'. The individual has no contract with the government, the only contract is the ori ginal social contract: "There is only one contract in the State, and that is the act of association, which in itself excludes the existence of a second. " (The Social Contract, 3.16) Thomas Hobbes' starting point is that the state of nature is not a Rousseau-like utopia but rather a chaotic, anarchy. We will write a custom essay sample on The Social Contract According to Hobbes, Rousseau, Smith and Kants Opinions or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/page