1.) In The Prince,

1.) In The Prince, Machiavelli writes: “And let no one resist my opinion on this with that trite proverb, that whoever founds on the people founds on mud.” According to Machiavelli, how should a prince “found on the people”? How does his advice ultimately benefit the people?

2.) Take a look at the foundations of the social contract in both Hobbes and Locke. How do their different assumptions about human nature and the state of nature inform their theories? How does this result in their different conceptions of civil society/government? Identify and analyze at least two different assumptions and speak about the implications for their theories.

writes: “And let no one resist my opinion on this with that trite proverb, that whoever founds on the people founds on mud.” According to Machiavelli, how should a prince “found on the people”? How does his advice ultimately benefit the people?

2.) Take a look at the foundations of the social contract in both Hobbes and Locke. How do their different assumptions about human nature and the state of nature inform their theories? How does this result in their different conceptions of civil society/government? Identify and analyze at least two different assumptions and speak about the implications for their theories.