Political Theory: Locke, Rousseau, Hobbes, Montesquieu

For the second paper, please write a response to one of the topics listed below. The paper is due on April 30, 2018 (on or before 11:59pm) and will be valued at 25% of the final grade. The official word limit for the first paper is 1500 words (or about 6 double-spaced pages), but I will allow reasonable deviations from this range. This is not a research paper, so it is not necessary to conduct outside research beyond the assigned course texts, but you are always welcome to consult outside secondary sources. I will be happy to offer suggestions on sources that may be consulted. However, as with any academic writing, please make sure to add proper citations (my preference is the Chicago Manual of Style, but any standard method is fine) to document any material you wish to quote directly from a source. Everyone should submit a digital copy of your paper through bCourses under the Assignments tab. Students should also follow further instructions concerning submission provided by their GSI. Topics 1. If the first law of nature is that we seek peace, why does Hobbes think war is inevitable? Consider including in your paper discussions about war and peace found in Grotius, Locke, and/or Kant. 2. Why does Locke describe civil government as a ‘trust’? 3. Can you consent to ‘enslave’ yourself? Formulate a response with reference to at least two of the following sources: Grotius, Hobbes, Locke, and/or Rousseau. 4. Rousseau explains in Book II of The Social Contract that the ‘General Will’ is constituted through a democratic voting procedure involving all citizens. But is Rousseau’s voting procedure too demanding? 5. Can you be ‘forced to be free’? Develop your response with reference to the theory of freedom developed by Hobbes, Montesquieu, or Rousseau. Can provide scans of the text/pdf we are allowed to use. Just need to use the text provided/listed (can also provide lecture slide). Number of texts depends on which topic chosen.