Library Guides: The social contract: Philosophers

Don't forget to cite and reference your sources. For help see the Junior School or Senior School referencing guides, and / or CiteMaker.

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LEVEL

Brief, basic information laid out in an easy-to-read format. May use informal language. (Includes most news articles)

LEVEL

Provides additional background information and further reading. Introduces some subject-specific language.

LEVEL

Lengthy, detailed information. Frequently uses technical/subject-specific language. (Includes most analytical articles)

General Capabilities

Enduring Understandings

Philosophers and other thinkers have grappled with the idea of society and how we are to live together.

The social contract is implied in many of our democracies today and is underpinned by philosophical thinking.

Essential Questions

What rules and assumptions underpin a well-functioning society?

Quick Links

Jump to: Introduction | Key philosophers

The social contract | Key philosophers: Introduction

A Beginner's Guide to the Enlightenment (Thought.Co)
"The Enlightenment has been defined in many different ways, but at its broadest was a philosophical, intellectual and cultural movement of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. It stressed reason, logic, criticism, and freedom of thought over dogma, blind faith, and superstition. Logic wasn’t a new invention, having been used by the ancient Greeks, but it was now included in a worldview which argued that empirical observation and the examination of human life could reveal the truth behind human society and self, as well as the universe." (Wilde, 2019)
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Reference / citation: Wilde, (2019) or (Wilde, 2019) Reference list / Bibliography: Wilde, R. (2019, May 23). A Beginner's Guide to the Enlightenment. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/a-beginners-guide-to-the-enlightenment-1221925

The social contract | Key philosophers

Level 1 Articles

Plato (Britannica High)
"Plato, (born 428/427 bce, Athens, Greece—died 348/347, Athens), ancient Greek philosopher... In The Republic,... Plato develops a view of happiness and virtue that departs from that of Socrates. According to Plato, there are three parts of the soul, each with its own object of desire.... The political discussion is undertaken to aid the ethical one. One early hint of the existence of the three parts of the soul in the individual is the existence of three classes in the well-functioning state: rulers, guardians, and producers." ("Plato", n.d.)
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Reference / citation: "Plato", (n.d.) or ("Plato", n.d.)
Reference list / bibliography: Plato. (n.d.). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved from https://bt-libproxy.mentonegirls.vic.edu.au/levels/high/article/Plato/108556
An Introduction to Plato and His Philosophical Ideas (Thought.Co)
"Plato was one of the most famous, respected, and influential philosophers of all time.... He saw tripartite structures in the world around him. His social structure theory had a governing class, warriors, and workers. He thought the human soul contained reason, spirit, and appetite. " (Gill, 2019)
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Reference / citation: Gill, (2019) or (Gill, 2019)
Reference list / Bibliography: Gill, N. (2019, March 28). An Introduction to Plato and His Philosophical Ideas. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/plato-important-philosophers-120328

Level 2 resource eBooks

Plato (Garvey & Nagle, 2014, pp. 99-100)
"The safest general characterization of the European philosophical tradition is that it consists of a series of footnotes to Plato.” … The influence of Plato has been persistent and unbroken. His Academy at Athens, which opened in about 387 BCE, was the first forerunner of today’s colleges and universities. It was a school devoted to philosophy, law, and scientific research." (Garvey & Nagle, 2014, pp. 99-100)
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Reference / citation: Garvey & Nagle (2014, pp. 99-100) or (Garvey & Nagle, 2014, pp. 99-100)
Reference list / Bibliography: Garvey, B., & Nagle, J. (2014). Plato. In Top 101 Philosophers. (pp. 99-100). Retrieved from https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=718086&site=ehost-live&scope=site&authtype=ip,sso&custid=mggsvic&ebv=EK&ppid=Page-__-99

Level 1 Articles

Thomas Hobbes (Britannica High)
"Thomas Hobbes,... English philosopher, scientist, and historian, best known for his political philosophy.... Hobbes viewed government primarily as a device for ensuring collective security. Political authority is justified by a hypothetical social contract among the many that vests in a sovereign person or entity the responsibility for the safety and well-being of all." ("Thomas Hobbes", n.d.)
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Reference / citation: "Thomas Hobbes", (n.d.) or ("Thomas Hobbes", n.d.)
Reference list / bibliography: Thomas Hobbes. (n.d.). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved from https://bt-libproxy.mentonegirls.vic.edu.au/levels/high/article/Thomas-Hobbes/40659

Level 2 resource

Hobbes's Leviathan (British Library, n.d.)
"To protect us from inevitable anarchy, Thomas Hobbes argued, we need a leader and protector, whose position is governed by a contract with the people.... In order to remove that basic fear between individuals or groups, Hobbes suggested that people should 'contract' with a protector as their sovereign." (British Library, n.d.)
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Reference / citation: British Library (n.d.) or (British Library, n.d.)
Reference list / Bibliography: British Library. Hobbes's Leviathan. Retrieved from https://www.bl.uk/collection-items/hobbess-leviathan

Level 2 resource eBooks

Thomas Hobbes (Carvey & Nagle, 2014, pp. 59)
"English political theorist Thomas Hobbes was born in Westport in Wiltshire, Eng., on April 5, 1588. He lived during the decades when absolute monarchy in Europe was drawing to a close and sentiments for popular democracy were emerging. In his book Leviathan (1651), he provided the formula for an ideal state in which all citizens would live together under terms of a social contract." (Carvey & Nagle, 2014, pp. 59)
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Reference / citation: Carvey & Nagle (2014, pp. 59) or (Carvey & Nagle, 2014, pp. 59)
Reference list / Bibliography: Carvey, B. & Nagle, J., (2014). Thomas Hobbes in Top 101 Philosophers:
People You Should Know (pp. 109-110). https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=718086&site=ehost-live&scope=site&authtype=ip,sso&custid=mggsvic&ebv=EK&ppid=Page-__-59

Level 2 resource Film and video Using YouTube on campus help and instructions To view this video on campus remember to first login to your school Google account using your mConnect username and password. Click here for more help on using YouTube on campus.

"Thomas Hobbes believed that it is always better to have security rather than liberty in a country. He was therefore deeply opposed to the English Civil War – and would have predicted the chaos of the Arab Spring. " (The school of life, 2015)

Source

When using this video don't forget to cite and reference your sources. For more information and help see the Kerferd Library referencing guide and / or CiteMaker.
In text reference / citation: The school of life (2015) or (The school of life, 2015)
Bibliography / Reference list: The school of life (2015). Political theory - Thomas Hobbes., [eVideo]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/9i4jb5XBX5s

Level 1 Articles

John Locke (Britannica High School, n.d.)
"English philosopher whose works lie at the foundation of modern philosophical empiricism and political liberalism... His political thought was grounded in the notion of a social contract between citizens and in the importance of toleration" (John Locke, n.d.)
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Reference / citation: John Locke (n.d.) or (John Locke, n.d.)
Reference list / Bibliography: John Locke. (n.d.). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved from https://bt-libproxy.mentonegirls.vic.edu.au/levels/high/article/John-Locke/108465

Level 2 resource eBooks

John Locke (Carvey & Nagle, 2014, pp. 74-79)
"John Locke was born in Wrington, Somerset, Eng., on Aug. 29, 1632. He was one of the pioneers in modern thinking and made great contributions in studies of politics, government, and psychology."(Carvey & Nagle, 2014, pp. 74-79)
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Reference / citation: Carvey & Nagle (2014, pp. 74-79) or (Carvey & Nagle, 2014, pp. 74-79)
Reference list / Bibliography: Carvey, B. & Nagle, J., (2014). John Locke in Top 101 Philosophers:
People You Should Know (pp. 74-79). Retrieved from https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=286563&site=ehost-live&scope=site&authtype=ip,sso&custid=mggsvic&ebv=EK&ppid=Page-__-74

John Locke by Patrice Sherman
ISBN: 9781433383816
Publication Date: 2012
In 1689, John Locke wrote that individuals had the right to life and liberty. Soon, his ideas spread across the world and helped create a new system of rule. In this engaging biography, readers learn about the inspiring life of John Locke and his role in the Enlightenment. Featuring brilliant images and fascinating facts, this book will have readers engaged as they learn about such topics as the Glorious Revolution and empiricism. This book also includes text features like a table of contents, glossary, and index, as well as an in-class writing activity to further students' understanding of John Locke's work.

"John Locke's greatness as a philosopher is based on his theories on childhood, his work on religious toleration and his concept of the rights of citizens.. " (The school of life, 2016)

Source

When using this video don't forget to cite and reference your sources. For more information and help see the Kerferd Library referencing guide and / or CiteMaker.
In text reference / citation: The school of life (2016) or (The school of life, 2016)
Bibliography / Reference list: The school of life (2016). Political theory - John Locke., [eVideo]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/bZiWZJgJT7I

Level 1 Articles

Jean-Jacques Rousseau (Britannica High)
"Jean-Jacques Rousseau,... Swiss-born philosopher, writer, and political theorist whose treatises and novels inspired the leaders of the French Revolution and the Romantic generation." ("Jean-Jacques Rousseau", n.d.)
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Reference / citation: "Jean-Jacques Rousseau", (n.d.) or ("Jean-Jacques Rousseau", n.d.)
Reference list / bibliography: Jean-Jacques Rousseau. (n.d.). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved from https://bt-libproxy.mentonegirls.vic.edu.au/levels/high/article/Jean-Jacques-Rousseau/109503

Level 2 resource eBooks

Jean-Jacques Rousseau (Carvey & Nagle, 2014, pp. 109-110)
"After years of thought Rousseau wrote a book on the origins of government, The Social Contract, stating that no laws are binding unless agreed upon by the people. This idea deeply affected French thinking, and it became one of the chief forces that brought on the French Revolution about 30 years later." (Carvey & Nagle, 2014, pp. 109-110)
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Reference / citation: Carvey & Nagle (2014, pp.109-110) or (Carvey & Nagle, 2014, pp. 109-110)
Reference list / Bibliography: Carvey, B. & Nagle, J., (2014). Jean-Jacques Rousseau in Top 101 Philosophers:
People You Should Know (pp. 109-110). Retrieved from https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=718086&site=ehost-live&scope=site&authtype=ip,sso&custid=mggsvic&ebv=EK&ppid=Page-__-109

Level 1 Articles

Montesquieu (Britannica High)
"Montesquieu, in full Charles-Louis de Secondat, baron de La Brède et de Montesquieu... French political philosopher whose principal work, The Spirit of Laws, was a major contribution to political theory." ("Montesquieu", n.d.)
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Reference / citation: "Montesquieu", (n.d.) or ("Montesquieu", n.d.)
Reference list / bibliography: Montesquieu. (n.d.). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved from https://bt-libproxy.mentonegirls.vic.edu.au/levels/high/article/Montesquieu/53522

Level 2 resource eBooks

Montesquieu (Carvey & Nagle, 2014, pp. 90)
"Charles-Louis de Secondat, baron of Montesquieu, was born on Jan. 18, 1689, near Bordeaux, France. A political philosopher, Montesquieu developed the theory that governmental powers should be divided between executive, legislative, and judicial bodies." (Carvey & Nagle, 2014, pp. 90)
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Reference / citation: Carvey & Nagle (2014, pp. 90) or (Carvey & Nagle, 2014, pp. 90)
Reference list / Bibliography: Carvey, B. & Nagle, J., (2014). Montesquieu in Top 101 Philosophers:
People You Should Know (pp. 90). Retrieved from https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=718086&site=ehost-live&scope=site&authtype=ip,sso&custid=mggsvic&ebv=EK&ppid=Page-__-90