Question

Which of the following best summarizes why human beings might give up personal freedom to a government? Options: • To ensure absolute control over their own lives. • To guarantee that their personal interests are always prioritized. • To achieve collective security and order in society. • To eliminate the need for any form of government.

Answer 1

The best answer is that people give up personal freedom to a government in order to achieve collective security and order in society, echoing the views of philosophers like Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau on the social contract and the balance between personal freedoms and government protection.

Step-by-step explanation:

Among the options provided, the one that best summarizes why human beings might give up personal freedom to a government is to achieve collective security and order in society. This aligns with the political philosophy of Thomas Hobbes, who argued that in a state of nature, life would be 'solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short,' due to constant conflict over limited resources necessary for survival. To escape this chaos, people enter into a social contract, giving up some of their freedom in exchange for the safety and public order that a sovereign ruler, or government, can provide.

John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau also contributed to this discourse, highlighting that individuals trade some liberties for basic services and protections, insisting on a balance that allows them ultimate control over their government, as exemplified in the Bill of Rights. Similarly, James Madison remarked, 'If men were angels, governments would not be necessary,' acknowledging the role of government in managing the imperfect nature of humans and maintaining civil society.

Answer 2

Human beings might give up personal freedom to a government in order to achieve collective security and order in society, following the concept of a social contract as argued by philosophers such as Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question seeks to understand why human beings might choose to relinquish some of their personal freedom to a government. The best summary for this decision is to achieve collective security and order in society. This concept can be traced back to philosophical theories such as those of Thomas Hobbes, who believed that in the absence of a governing power, life would be 'solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short' due to constant competition and fear. To escape this, people enter into a social contract, exchanging their natural rights for the protection of a monarch or government.

John Locke and Jean Jacques Rousseau also posited that a social contract was necessary. They argued that people willingly trade some liberties for basic services and protections, such as laws and police to secure order and property. James Madison famously said, 'If men were angels, governments would not be necessary.' This provides the rationale that the need for governments arises from the inherently flawed nature of humans, which results in conflicts that can only be regulated through a structured system of governance.