7

 Freedom and Authority
For this assignment, you will write an essay assessing the issue you selected for your discussion in Week 6. You must consider:

The versions of social contract theory proposed by Thomas Hobbes and either John Locke or Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Your own view of the proper relation between society and the individual.
The readings in Week 6 gave you an overview of social contract theory and the account of Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau. You may use the sources provided to help craft your paper, but feel free to supplement with sources of your own.

Address the following in your paper:

Briefly explain how, in general, social contract theory attempts to justify government authority.
Why do individual choose to live together and give up some of their freedom in order to live under common rules and laws?
Apply the social contract theories of Hobbes and either Locke or Rousseau to a selected contemporary issue.
Briefly explain Hobbes’s version of social contract theory and then either Locke’s or Rousseau’s. Then, apply each to the issue you have selected. How would each settle the debate over the issue?
Assess the advantages and disadvantages of these theories as they relate to a selected issue.
From what you have learned in reading about and discussing these theories, what are the main pros and cons of each as it applies to the scenario.
Communicate in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and consistent with expectations.
Additional Requirements
Written communication: Ensure written communication is free of errors that detract from the overall message.
APA formatting: Format resources and citations according to current APA guidelines for style and format.
Number of resources: Use your judgment to ensure your topic is thoroughly researched. There is no minimum number of resources required, however.
Length of paper: Submit 2–3 typed, double-spaced pages