OUTPUT_7

VARIAS, JESSICA MARIE P.

202010240
Based on the theories provided, How did states in the world originate? Choose 1 theory
only.

There are many competing theories that describe the origins of the states, and
learning those theories is actually a necessary thing specially for a Political Science
student, like me. Before we can get to understand the basics of the government , we
have to learn first where the state originates. We also need to understand how
important the government is for the people in the past, and the theory of social
contract stands out the most for me among other theories.

The emergence of Social Contract Theory challenges the idea of Divine Right
Theory. Social Contract Theory is the view that people’s moral and obligation are
dependent upon a contract or an agreement between ruled and rulers to form the
society that they lived in and it obviously opposed the theory of divine right where it is
stated that God is the one who ordained and created the state, and appointed one
person called the king who will lead the people on earth in behalf of him. Thomas
Hobbes, a philosopher, first developed the theory of social contract, and among other
theorists and philosophers, he is the one who badly agrees on the idea of absolute
monarchy.

According to him, humans are living like a beast and selfish enough to violate
other people's rights. People always make bad decisions that's why he added that we
must be controlled by an absolute monarch. He also states that the life of man is
solitary, poor, nasty, and short. For him, people need to surrender the power to the state
to keep order in society and the Government, in return, must protect the people.

On the other hand, two philosophers have different views and somehow oppose
the idea of Hobbes. John Locke states that humans are rational by nature and can
really control themselves and even though there is no government, it's not chaotic
because humans are rational and born with 3 Natural Rights: Life, Liberty and Property.
Also, he stated that people who are the sovereign have the power to elect or choose a
government who will protect their natural rights and it is somehow similar to what Jean
Jacques Rousseau said. Rousseau believes that humans are good and compassionate
ever since, but can also be corrupted by civilization. Our state of nature is a rich
environment where early humans were living solitary and peaceful lives. Just like what
John Locke says, he also believes that people are the sovereign and people must vote
for their chosen government, and if the government didn’t fulfill its job to protect its
people, then the people also have the right to back out the contract between them
and choose another set of government.

These three major philosophers have different views about the ideas of sovereign
or on how society needs to be controlled. And now, they also have definite views on
the effects of social contract. Hobbes says that if we have the monarch and if people
are under control, people will live in peace, even without rights. For Locke, the natural
rights will be easier for us to attain if the government will enforce it for us created with
consent or contract between the people and the government. And for Rousseau, if
we’re just going to follow the general will or things that will benefit everybody, setting
aside our personal preferences, life will be fair for everyone.

Upon reading and searching for more information about Social Contract Theory,
I discovered more philosophers and theorists who gave their opinion about the theory
of social contract. I have also got to know Montesquieu, who pushes the separation of
power to avoid the possibilities of the government abusing its power against the
people's natural rights. Montesquieu forth the idea that there should be a seperation of
power, like there should be an executive, legislative and judicial part for them to check
each other and become balanced. And Voltaire who is also remarkable for me, stated
his idea about separating the government from the church.

All of them have a good point and argument about it that somehow convinces
me to support the Theory of Social Contract. They are the best known proponents of
this theory, which has been one of the most dominant theories within political theories
throughout history. This theory is the most convincing for me since we are still depending
on some of it until now in the present days.