HUM 1020 – INTRODUCTION TO HUMANITIES

WORKSHEET FOR SOCIAL CONTRACT THEORY AND POLITICAL WRITINGS

WORTH 24 POINTS

INSTRUCTIONS: CAREFULLY read the directions for each of the following sections.
Complete this worksheet by typing your answers directly into the text entry fields in each
section. Your work should be in complete sentences. Upload your work using the
submission link on the assignment page.

Section I – Read the lecture titled “Social Contract Theory” in the weekly module. State a
definition of social contract that is based on the information from the lecture. (Do not
Google the definition!) Be sure you give a full and complete definition by stating what is
given up by humans, and what is received in return.(4 pts.)
A social contract is an agreement between people and the government. In the
agreement the people gives the government authority to govern them. Under the
contract, the people give up some of their rights and freedom to get protection of their
remaining rights in exchange.

Section II - Click on the link at the top of the assignment page to read the excerpt from John
Locke’s “Second Treatise of Civil Government.” Select two different quotations from the
excerpt that reflect or illustrate the meaning of “social contract,” and copy and paste them
in the spaces provided.Then, explain in your own words what each quote means, or what
the author is trying to say. (8 pts.)

Quotation A:
“The first power-viz., of doing whatsoever he thought fit for the preservation of himself
and the rest of mankind, he gives up to be regulated by laws made by the society, so far
forth as the preservation of himself and the rest of that society shall require; which laws
of the society in many things confine the liberty he had by the law of Nature.”

Interpretation of quote (in your own words):

This quote interprets that people will have to give up some rights and privileges that
they believe are fit for them in exchange for regulated laws that were made by the
society in unity. With the people giving up something, they will receive protection of their
liberty in exchange from the government

Quotation B:
“The great and chief end, therefore, of men uniting into commonwealths, and putting
themselves under government, is the preservation of their property; to which in the state
of nature are many things wanting.”

Interpretation of quote (in your own words):

This quote means when the people are coming together and unifying to be governed
under the government, they are preserving their property and rights
Section III – Click on the link at the top of the assignment page to read the “Declaration of
Independence” by Thomas Jefferson. Select two different quotations from the document
that reflect or illustrate the meaning of “social contract,” and copy and paste them in the
spaces provided. Then, explain in your own words what each quote means, or what the
author is trying to say. (8 pts.)

Quotation C:
“That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the
Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its
foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall
seem most likely to affect their Safety and Happiness”

Interpretation of quote (in your own words):

This quote can be interpreted that if the government becomes destructive, then the
people have permission to change it or choose another form of government that will
ensure their safety and happiness.

Quotation D:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are
endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life,
Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.—That to secure these rights, Governments are
instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed”

Interpretation of quote (in your own words):

This quote can be interpreted to be stating that the government must protect the
people's important freedom, such as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. People
are created equal from God and their rights should be protected. The government is
responsible for protecting the rights

Section IV- Select either quotation A, B, C, or D and in two (2) or more sentences, explain
how the quote relates to the concept of social contract.(4 pts.)

I chose quotation C. That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive

ofthese ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute
newGovernment, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in
suchform, as to them shall seem most likely to affect their Safety and Happiness.

This quote illustrates the concept of social contract because: The quote is saying that if
thegovernment becomes destructive, the governed have the right to change or abolish
itinto something that will ensure their safety and happiness. This quote illustrates the
concept of social contract because the meaning of a social contract is the people
thatare being governed, give the government the power to govern them in exchange
ofprotection of their rights. If the government does not give the people what they want,
orif the people do not like the way they are being governed, they have the right to
change it as per the social contract.