SOCY 226 Lecture Notes - Mythopoeic Thought, Tabula Rasa, Classical Liberalism

• School: Queen's University
• Department: Social Sci, Edu and Soc Work - Sociology
• Course: SOCY 226
• Professor: G R Frank Pearce

Document Summary

Social contract theory: addresses the authority of the state over the individual, individuals should surrender some of their freedom to the ruler, or the decision of the majority. In exchange for protection of their rights. Civil society: power must be based on the consent of the people, humans obey physical laws. State of nature: what humans would be like without government, each person would have the right to anything in the world. The mind is a blank slate: tabula rasa. Knowledge is determined by experience: using sense perception. Property is a natural right derived from labour. God created the universe: based on stable laws, god is the first cause. Created the effects that are now in motion. We live in a world of second causes: to understand these causes. Common sense is inadequate: cannot rely on authority. Make sense of relationship between the world and their relationship with nature: there is devine order.