The construct of democracy has developed through the theories that different personalities have created. Among the most noteworthy persons that gave significant part to democracy are Thomas Hobbes. John Locke. and Jean Jacques Rousseau through their societal contract theory. The societal contract theory serves as a foundation in the constitution of the major dogmas of democracy. The societal contract theory of Thomas Hobbes is affected by his belief sing human nature. Hobbes deems that people are populating in a province of nature wherein each person has a right to everything in the universe.

However. this could go helter-skelter as people have changing and frequently times conflicting involvements. As such. this sort of state of affairs will finally take to conflict. In relation to this. he asserts that people should give up their natural rights to a autonomous authorization that will be responsible in protecting them against a life that is “solitary. hapless. awful. brutish. and short” ( Friend ) . He besides states that the maltreatments of power by this autonomous authorization should be accepted in exchange for peace ( Friend ) .

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On the contrary. the societal contract theory of John Locke is different from Hobbes as he believes that the province of nature is non a province without morality. It is pre-political as there is no civil authorization or authorities. but it is non pre-moral because people are regarded as equal with one another in the province of nature and they are capable of detecting the jurisprudence of nature. which is the footing of all morality. Persons in this province of nature would come together and give up their rights to the public power of a authorities in order for this organic structure to penalize those who transgress the jurisprudence of nature.

Another difference of Locke’s theory from Hobbes is that he does non believe that the maltreatments of power of a supreme authorization should non be tolerated. instead the people has the right to reject an opprobrious authorities and return to the province of nature to be able to build a better regulating organic structure ( Friend ) . Jean Jacques Rousseau’s societal contract theory is mostly influenced by the enlightenment age as it was created during that clip. Roseau asserts that worlds are basically free in the province of nature but the advancement of civilisation made people infringe upon the autonomy of others through economic and societal inequalities.

In this sense. he believes that people should hold an understanding to come together through the societal treaty wherein single individuals become corporate in give uping their single rights and freedom and reassign it to a individual organic structure. This individual organic structure is composed of the people that are directed towards the common good of the people. As such. the authorities in Rousseau’s theory is authorized through the general will of the people. which is regarded as a direct signifier of democracy.

His theory is different from Hobbes and Locke because of his thought of esteeming the person will and still leting them to piece themselves to organize a general will that will incarnate all the people concerned ( Friend ) . Despite the fact that democracy is regarded as one of the ideal signifiers of authorities. it still has its corresponding jobs. One of the most noteworthy quandary in a democratic system is that the minority is sometimes put in a disadvantageous place as the will of the bulk reigns supreme. Another quandary is the ability of the people to vote for the right functionaries that they will elect in the authorities.

Voting sagely requires people to hold the necessary cognition and ability to spot the right campaigners that they will take. However. this becomes hard particularly for states where people are illiterate and could be easy influenced by propaganda ( Haarsma and Kuchling ) .

Plants Cited

Friend. Celeste. 2006. “Social Contract Theory. ” The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. 10 June 2009 & lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //www. iep. utm. edu/s/soc-cont. htm # H2 & gt ; . Haarsma. Loren. . and Kuchling. Andrew Mark. 10 February 1992. “Problems with Democracy. ” 10 June 2009 & lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //www. galactic-guide. com/articles/2S3. hypertext markup language & gt ; .

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