Theories From the Preamble essays

Theories From the Preamble essays The Preamble to the Constitution of the United States is a declaration to the foundation of our nations political society. Although many individuals view the preamble as being a unique theory in and of itself, in fact it is anything but unique. The Preamble is actually a composite of several different political theories as developed by other philosophers and theorist and applied to the unique American experience. Several of these theories include Social Contract Theory, Deontological and Virtue Ethics. The Preamble of the United States Constitution is a single sentence that states: We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. Social Contract Theory is a political philosophy most often associated with the works of Thomas Hobbes, John Locke and Rousseau. To briefly summarize, the general theory is that social order (or nations) are created when people give up some of their rights to a government in exchange for social order. Accordingly, humans are taken out of the chaos of the state of nature by agreeing to submit themselves to the rule and authority of the government for their long-term best interest. In the Preamble of the Constitution, social contract theory can be seen throughout. For example, it is clearly stating that in exchange for a more perfect Union, Justice, domestic Tranquility, and to promote the general Welfare, among other things, the People of the United States hereby ordain and establish the Constitution. In other words, in order to live in an orderly society that protects the listed rights, the citizens of the United St...