POLC71H3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Hugo Grotius, Thomas Hobbes, Body Politic
Document Summary
The problem of political legitimacy: the central concern of the social contract. Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains . Not only physical chains but the invisible chains of society that render one dependent upon each other. What if anything can render it legitimate? (p. 156) Legitimate rightful, acceptable in the eyes of those who are in the position of being chained. Not force: force is a physical power to give in to force is an act of necessity. No legitimacy or rightness can ever result from an act of force: Force does not bring about right (arguing against grotius and hobbes) We know for sure that one type that can never be legitimate is force. Force is a physical power and to give into force in conditions of self defense, merely is an act of necessity (you didn"t choose to accept that force, you had no choice completely rejects.
