Reference no: EM133192821 , Length: Wrod Count: 2000 words.
Essay Assignment: Philosophy of Freedom
Answer 1 of the following questions:
A. Compare and contrast More's and Hobbes' accounts of human nature and its connection to social or political possibilities. How does each understand human nature? What is human nature like? Is it innate or nurtured by environmental factors? How do their understanding of human nature inform what they see as being possible in the organization of human societies? Is More more optimistic about social/political possibilities than Hobbes? If so, why? If not, why not?
B. Compare and contrast More's and Rousseau's critiques of private property. According to each theorist, what is the problem with private property and what social problems does it produce? Why and how does it disrupt social order? What problems and limitations to human freedom does it create? According to each theorist, is it possible to remedy these problems? Why or why not?
C. Compare and contrast Hobbes' and Rousseau's accounts of the state of nature. How does each conceptualize the state of nature? Why does Rousseau critique previous accounts of the state of nature? Does it matter that he critiques them or does he ultimately wind up simply saying the same thing as them in a different way? What is at stake in their different accounts of the state of nature in terms of thinking about social organization?
D. I suggested that More's Utopia was a dialogue about dialogue, which ended by opening the dialogue up to readers to assess the ideas of Raphael and ‘More' (i.e. the character in the book). Write a paper that continues this dialogue. What problems does Raphael see as plaguing contemporary England? How do the utopians solve these problems? What is ‘More's' assessment of the utopian way of life? What is your assessment of these positions? Does More the author think that utopia has some features that are meant to be taken seriously? Why or why not?
E. Compare and contrast the accounts given in Hobbes' Leviathan and Rousseau's Social Contract (i.e. the reading from February 25th) of sovereign power in relation to freedom. How does each theorist define freedom? Who or what is sovereign? Is there a difference between Hobbes' absolute sovereign and Rousseau's general will? Are the people free in either account? Why or why not?