Government (social contract theory and redistribution of wealth). Chose one of them - Essay Example

I am more inclined to believe that man by default is good and influenced by his or her environment where he can be better or slide into misery, as Hobbes argues. Misery and chaos are not the natural conditions of man but, rather, the blank state or tabulasa rasa subject to the condition and influence of the society, environment and government. Hobbes’ argument about the basis of government is also flawed, as per the statement that government is formed by its citizens’ giving up some of its destructive rights to have a government.

While it may be partially correct that people must cede or limit some of their freedoms to achieve order, it does not necessarily mean giving up their freedom. Simply, government was not created on the basis of men agreeing not to kill or rob each other; rather because it is better for them if there is a government to set the direction of what the ideal behavior in society is and to protect their rights and freedom. Locke Locke agreed with Hobbes in the fundamental need for a government. They, however, differ in the reason and principle for forming such government.

For Locke, government is created by people who agree to bind together and form a government who would look after them for their protection and security of their lives, properties and their freedom. I am inclined to agree with the proposition of Locke because, unlike Hobbes, Locke’s philosophy is hinged on morals where people agreed to bind each other for their mutual protection and security and not because they cannot be left on their own as they are chaotic and miserable, as what Hobbes contended.

One of the many facets of Locke’s argument I like is his idea of the basis of government’s legitimacy. I believe he started the idea of democracy. For Locke, government must have the consent of the governed to preside over them. This principle is the basis why we have elections and why the elected officials are beholden to the people and why the people are sovereign compared to the old principle of Divine Right of Kings where kings ruled even without the consent of the governed. This idea of Locke that the government must have the consent of the governed has also its safeguard mechanism against the abuses and incompetence of the government.

In cases where government and its officials are abusive, incompetent or corrupt, the governed can hold them accountable during elections by not voting for them, thus, removing them from office. In extreme cases, it is possible to even change the government itself through revolution, as what we have seen in many countries where dictators were toppled because the governed no longer wanted authoritarian rule. Above all, I agree with Locke’s social contract because the Declaration of Independence which is the basis of our government was based on Locke’s social contract theory.

Without Locke’s idea of social justice, America as a society will be something else, which could be far from the ideal and not what it is today. II. Government responsibility for the citizens I am more inclined to believe in Rawl’s theory of justice. In Rawl’s theory of justice, he advance two kinds of justice, one of which is the merit theory;as the title suggests, it rewards the person depending upon one’s contribution to society. The other one which is more applicable to this case is the need theory which posits that