Home: Polsc 663: Study Guide for Midterm

Study Guide for Midterm

Tips for the test: Bring one large blue book or two small blue books. If you need extra paper, I will provide it. Poor grammar and spelling will detract from your grade if they make your essay difficult to understand. Pace yourself. You will have an hour and 20 minutes to take the exam. Try to divide your time evenly between the two essays.

 The test questions will be derived from these questions. You will write a total of two essays and you will have a choice of questions in each of two sections.

1. Describe Hobbes's social contract. What role does his account of the "laws of nature" play in the establishment of the social contract and in how government should act after the social contract is established.

2. What is Hobbes's state of nature like? What makes it a constant state of war?

3. Why does Hobbes prefer absolute monarchy to any other form of government. Why does he think mixed government is absurd?

4. How does Hobbes's materialism impact his treatment of many Christian beliefs?

5. How does Hobbes want people to view Christianity? What is his ultimate political purpose for dealing with Christian beliefs as he does?

6. Describe Locke's social contract. What role does his account of the "laws of nature" play in the establishment of the social contract and in how government should act after the contract is established.

7 . What is Locke's state of nature like? How does Locke's view of the state of nature make him reject absolute monarchy in favor of a representative regime?

8. Describe Locke's view of the best form of government. What are its functions?

9 . Why is it that, unlike Hobbes's theory, Locke's theory leads to the right to revolution? Evaluate both men's theories from the point of view of stability--do either of them tend towards too much instability?

10. Explain why Locke advocated religious tolerance (with exceptions) whereas Hobbes did not.

11. What does Locke mean by "prerogative"? How is it supposed to function and for what purposes? How can it be abused, and what is the remedy?

12. Describe how Hobbes and Locke use women and family issues in their state of nature scenarios. What is their purpose? How would they explain the inequality that existed between the sexes in society?