Hobbes and the theory of social contract as the context for Kant's political philosophy

Abstract

The paper outlines the history of »social contract« theories in political philosophy, beginning with Hobbes and ending with Kant, defining thus the context in which Kant's political philosophy is to be placed, if we are to understand its polemical details and its strong, as well as its weak aspects. It concentrates on the classical form of theory of »social contract« as developed by Thomas Hobbes, and also on the theories of Locke, Spinoza and Rousseau, which build on its foundations. The thesis primarily relies on the insights of recent interpretations of the aforementioned writers, and in conclusion the author suggests that Kant's theory of »social contract« is much closer to that of Hobbes than Kant himself would be prepared to admit.