WGU C963 - Learning Checks & Quizzes with solutions

What is it called when people make an agreement between themselves and the government? A social contract According to the social contract theory, what is the origin of society? Society is the product of human desire and effort Brainpower 0:11 / 0:15 Which of the following did John Locke view as the most important protections under the social contract? Liberty and property Which of these accurately describes John Locke's view on the state of nature? The state of nature was peaceful and consisted of rational human beings According to John Locke, how much authority should society have over its citizens under the social contract? Limited authority, the social contract should provide a society in which the society has no more power than is necessary to regulate the natural rights and co-existence of its citizens Describe the characteristics of a social contract. A social contract is a collective expression of a collectively shared interest, a definition of human nature, and a specification of natural rights. In what way is the state of nature important for constructing a social contract? Society should be a reflection of what it means to be human, and natural rights must be acknowledged and protected in a social contract. Why is it important to know what the quality of life is like in the state of nature? How bad or good life is in the state of nature will guide the need to cooperate with others, and the subsequent social contract will help overcome the drawbacks experienced in the state of nature. What is the purpose of a social contract? Social contracts are created to acknowledge and protect natural rights. What is an important weakness of a social contract? Social contracts require consensus, which is difficult to obtain in any society. What do natural rights let you do? Natural rights let you do what you need to survive and be secure, and they impart an equality of all people. What did the Enlightenment philosophers used the state of nature for? Enlightenment philosophers used the state of nature to define human nature and argued for a proper society and government based on that nature.