Midterm review

A couple of quick observations I made in class Monday. Remember my pledge: I promise not to use this exam to try to trip you up. This will be a straightforward exam on major themes from the course.

First, there are two parts. Short answers (60%). There will be 5-6 of these, and you'll respond to four of them. Your answers will require a couple of paragraphs, or about one full-sized page or a little more for those with averaged sized handwriting.

Compare and contrast Hobbes and Locke's views on the State of War and how such a state relates to the State of Nature.

What is Locke's explanation for why slavery might be permissible in some cases? How does Rousseau criticize this view?

Some have suggested that the discourse on inequality is really just an elaborate way of criticizing Hobbes and Locke's understandings of human nature. Explain.

Why, according to Hobbes, must we give up all our rights to the sovereign? What is the one exception, and why?

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These are good examples of what I might do. You've got four texts to prepare for; in each case, the most important thing, that will be on the exam in multiple forms, is being able to explain the nature, function, and logic behind their view of the social contract--why it's necessary and wise, what form it takes, and what kind of world it creates. Also be able to explain each theorists account of human nature, life in the state of nature, "natural law," the state of war, the role of reason, the place of property in the theory, and so on.

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Part II (40%). There will be some number, 6-8 is likely, of key quotes from the texts. In this section, you'll identify the author (and in Rousseau's case, the text) and explain briefly what the point is and why it's important to that theorist. Students think this will be harded than it is! Students don't do any worse or better on this section of my exams than any other so don't let it stress you out. The passages won't all be super-easy like "nasty, brutish and short" or "life, health, liberty and property" but it'll be something that contains content that makes it particularly identifiable as the theorist it is from. You'll also have at least two you can safely ignore.