For this assignment, your task is to compare and contrast how Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau describe the 'state of nature' and how their understanding of it informs their definition of the 'social contract'.
Questions and points to consider when constructing your essay are:
- How does each thinker describe the 'state of nature'? What are the similarities and differences in their interpretations?
- How does each thinker define the 'social contract' and its utility in the formation of civil society?
- In understanding their description of the state of nature and, especially for Locke and Rousseau, the protection of private property, what compels people to voluntarily agree to the 'social contract'?
1) A clear thesis statement. Your thesis statement should be placed in the first paragraph of the paper.
2) Your essay should be organized around supporting your thesis and articulating the connections and possible points of departure between the reading and the video.
3) Specific content from the readings and lectures should be used as evidence in support of your thesis. You may also draw from other course readings and video content, but specific reference must be made to the Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau texts. Take care to footnote your sources or provide parenthetical references, and be sure to include a reference/works cited list at the end of your essay (papers that do not include citations and a works cited listed will be marked down).
References and Citations: You must follow a citation guide for referencing materials in your essay. Guides include: MLA, APA and Chicago Style. You may choose the guide you are most comfortable using. For more information on citations styles, visit the ASU Libraries Citation Styles reference guide.