The social contract
Explain at least three ways the life experiences of Thomas Aquinas influenced his philosophical ideas and his support for monarchy.
What does Machiavelli mean when he says it is better for a leader to be feared instead of loved? Be sure to support your answer with evidence from the text or renaissance Italian politics.
What does Machiavelli mean when he says that leaders need to cultivate the virtues of the fox and the lion? Be sure to support your answer with evidence from the text or renaissance Italian politics.
Explain at least three ways the life experiences of Locke influenced their attitude toward government.
How does Locke define toleration and explain why is it important for civil society and democratic governments to have it?
Explain and analyze the theorists’ use of human nature and the state of nature.
Define and explain how a citizen becomes part of the social contract and to what extent the theorists rely on the consent of the governed.
What are the major features of the political system and how is it supposed to make decisions?
What are the duties, rights, and responsibilities of citizenship if any?
How may a citizen, if at all, leave the social contract? Lastly
Which of the contract theorists do you find most persuasive and why? Are their ideas still relevant to contemporary political problems?
