Thomas Hobbes was the first modern philosopher to articulate a detailed social contract theory. He wrote an influential book titled Leviathan. In this book, he detailed the idea of the social contract which states that men originally formed governments because of their need for protection. People gave up their rights to the rulers including their right to revolt in exchange for their safety; because for him, life would be chaotic and disordered without leadership. Thomas Hobbes termed the “state of nature” as the starting point for most social contract theories. He said that in a “state of nature” human life would be “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short”. If there are no laws and political orders, people and the society would have unlimited natural freedom. Meaning, to plunder, to rape, to cheat, to murder, to mine, to steal, and to have illegal loggings are just tolerable and acceptable in the society. And without political orders and laws, there would be an endless war and chaos. Thus, for Hobbes, in order to avoid these extreme conditions and chaos, men must contract or agree with each other to establish political community   in which they can all gain security in return for subjecting themselves to ruler. People must surrender some of their freedoms and submit to the authority of the ruler, in exchange for their protection. The big question is why a person or citizen would voluntarily give up his or her freedom to obtain the benefits of political order? For Hobbes, men consent to give up their rights in favor of the absolute authority of government. It is because of men’s need and even selfish desire why he joined in the social contract. Both people and the government leaders benefit and gain from this agreement. Even though the law of the rulers may be illogical and oppressive, Hobbes believes that government is the only solution or alternative to solve the terrifying disorder and turmoil in the society. In the presence of political laws people are afraid to commit crimes and disorder in the society because of the possible punishments and consequences that the rulers might give to them. The bad thing about social contract is that it is possible for the government leaders to abuse their power and authority. They may take advantage from their positions, for them to get and attain their personal desires.

In the context of seminary formation, social contract is really visible and existing. Here in the seminary there are various rules, regulations, programs and systems are being implemented by the administration and must be strictly observed and faithfully followed by everyone especially by seminarians. All of these must be put into practice and faithfully observed by everybody in order to maintain a harmonious and peaceful community. We have to obey and respect policies and systems in the seminary in order to avoid problems, misunderstanding, turmoil, and disorder. Thus, we put our trust to our seminary formators, that by their capabilities and willingness to serve us, they will be able to nurture and form us all to become good priests someday. For my almost four years of stay here in the seminary, I have many observations on how the administration leads and governs or rules the entire community, and this is the reality and we cannot deny that. There were times that they misuse their authority as formators. They thought that what they believe, say, and command is always true. I am in doubt whether what they do is really for everyone because there is always favoritism. Sometimes, they fail and refuse to listen to us. They let us enter into their own perception, insight and ideas which I thought sometimes these are already becoming meaningless and out-of-the-way. There are really misunderstanding and division among them in terms of decision making and communication. I think, they have a misconception of what really a formator must be. However, we cannot simply blame and judge them, they are not perfect priests, and nobody is perfect, and that is the point. They have also weaknesses and lapses as leaders or formators. Sad thing is that, if they will continue to remain in their own perspectives and will. As seminarians, we have the great responsibility to move and act out what must be the right thing to happen in the community. We gave ourselves for them for us to be formed, so we must also give our part and contribution. We are meant to help each other. We have to do faithfully our part. We have to obey and respect seminary rules, systems and regulations in order for us to have a comfortable, harmonious and peaceful community. We have to avoid doing bad habits and unnecessary actions in order for us not to be given sanctions and punishments. Of course we must not commit or do any grievous acts so that we will not be expelled. We have to do good things and behave well for us to be rewarded like having free afternoon. We have to be honest in our examination because there is a reward, ice cream. These are some of the conditions, reminders, and policy that the seminary administration strictly observed. However, we have to widen and sharpen our awareness and perspectives. We have to think and reflect deeply. We have to be involved in every situations and happenings here in the seminary. We should not depend only and be controlled by their own perspectives. We must assert what should be the best and right thing for all of us. We have to speak out. To be “sipsip” is not needed in order to be praised, but we have to stand for the truth.  We have to be “risk taker and and never be safe player”, kung tani.

As I imagine myself living during the time of the primitive man, I might ask myself does the primitive man or our ancestors ask theirselves what is the purpose why they live. What is the purpose of their existence? Having the mind of the primitive I, strongly, believe that their only desire is for survival. The drive force of their lives why they continue existing is to survive whatever it takes.

For Hobbes the state of nature of man before are equally the same. There is no such word as distinctions and ranks before, all are equally. Hobbes further discusses that equality means a man is capable of hurting each other with a thought in mind that they need to survive. We might equate man here as a selfish being but actually that is their way of in order to survive. As far as of now this kind of attitude continually exists in the rank of both poor and rich, there is always selfish desire against another. And for Hobbes, this equality also means a war against all. Every man draws the meaning of good and evil according to their drive to survive. This can also be mean that a man is egocentric. Egocentric means the I give the meaning to an object in relation to others. Once the object will do well for the I, it will be considered as good and vice versa. A person will be attracted to what he think will help him to survive and hate and withdraw to what he think as a treat for his survival.

Moreover Hobbes added that there is also in the state of nature of a man that they know about the natural law which is, of course, a drive to survival yet this natural law "is a precepts or general rule, found out by reason" that aims to people's safety. Because of this natural law people interacts to another and by this the social contract theory was originated. The first law of nature, "man is ought to seek peace and follow it". In order to seek peace we must first interact to other human beings. Peace is impossible if people before do not interact to one another. War to all will always prevail. But because one characteristic in order to survive is to see peace people interact. And the second law of nature,  "a man be willing, when others are so too,  as far forth as for peace, and defense of himself, and defense of himself he shall think it necessary, to lay down his right to all things; and be contented with so much liberty against other men, as he would allow other men against himself."

People, in order to survive, seek for peace and this seeking for peace is to interact to other people. By this interaction both parties engage into a contract, where both of them should agree in relation for the peace and for their survival. This is why the need of a leader is essential in both parties because the leader will be the one who will judge them.

Social contract theory is one way for the people to avoid the state of nature and enter into a new realm in which agreement between people was made. And as result of this agreement people should choose a leader someone who is also like them yet someone who is capable of this position. The position of a leader becomes only possible because of the contract between people and their expectations that someone will rule over them and surrender their self to the leader yet in return a leader must do what people agreed before a leader was chosen.

At the end the leader, in order to maintain the contract, should act as absolute in his order in maintaining the order, peace and the law which they have agreed beforehand. By state of nature, people wanted to survive by doing "good" but through the natural law people survive through peace which was a result of the contract between people.

They said that the best way to know a person is to give him “power” or put him on a “higher position.” Why? It is because power serves as a secret tool that slowly reveals the being of the person or the individual. Power can be either good or bad. If power is used in a good way, surely, the product if it is also good. But if it is used in bad way, surely, evil will rule. Power is actually meant to do what is good. In fact, you will not be given the power if you don’t propose first your good intention of having it, or power will not be given to you if others don’t see you as a good person having good traits in life. But the sad reality is, a person is dynamic, not static. We change in some course of time, given the chance and opportunities that will surely answer our needs and will fulfill our dreams.

Let’s take the example of our government- the Politicians. To be honest, we voted them (our government leaders now) because we thought all the while that they are really true about their propagandas that they are presenting or promising to us. We thought that when they won in the election, our lives will be less difficult because they will serve as our answers in all problems that we have in our society. But then again, a person is dynamic, not static. We can never hold their intentions. It is their own will and choice if they will really fulfill their promises or will forego them. That is our natural tendency as humans. We can say that it is easy to rule if we have the power, but what happens usually is that, it is difficult to rule our “self” if we have already the power. Power or possessions can easily change us. Sometimes we can’t see anymore our true self because it is veiled by our own abuses of power.

This might be also the reason why Thomas Hobbes was able to come up with his very own, the Social Contract Theory. This theory of him speaks that we must be “fair” always. This theory was made so that we can control the sleeping monster within us (Greed- the LEVIATHAN). That we should be concerned about others, the way we are concerned about ourselves. Thus, we shouldn’t think of overpowering them or to take advantage their weaknesses. The Social Contract Theory is made so that we can develop good kind of leadership, a leadership that is always concerned about the common good of all. It is also meant to erase the idea of, “Dapat damo ang akon sa imo, dapat may ginansyahon gid ko, dapat mas taas ako sa imo.” If Social Contrast is being followed, it can promote good kind of relationship or partnership, because it will delete the idea of rivalry to one another. For both can benefit and it is always fair. For example in sports, “kun pirme ka lang daog, wala na sang may gusto pa nga mag kontra sa imo, kay ma man-an nila nga it will be useless nga magkontra pa sila sa imo kung at the end of the game, they will surely be defeated.” I’m not saying that winning is bad, but what I’m trying to say is that losing sometimes is also necessary. We also give space to others so that they will also be motivated and can have the chance to prove themselves.

That’s why here in the seminary Fr. Marvin would always give us, seminarians, a treat after examinations (he  will usually buy us ice cream or cake), so as to serve as our consolation after being pressured by them (Priest-Formators) to study hard in all of our subjects. This is to, somehow, motivate us to always study well in all our subjects so that we can achieve high grades and also for us to avoid cheating. For me, this is one good example of Social Contract Theory, when our Priest-Formators would sometimes spend something just to motivate us in our formation. If we just follow the rules and regulations of the seminary and we will be safe, because if we will perform well in our formation, it is not only us who will benefit from it, but it is also our Priest-Formators. So, Social Contract Theory is just like a give and take relationship wherein nobody loses, but only improving and gaining, because we became good partners (with our Priest-Formators) and not rivals. Thus, we can establish a good relationship which is very good foundation in making our formation a fruitful one.

“There is a circle here that links us to one another: we each want to be happy; the social feeling of love is one of our greatest sources of happiness; and love entails that we be concerned for the happiness of others. We discover that we can be selfish together.”-

Sam Harris

Man is the masterpiece of God’s creation. We are the best among his creations here on earth because of our being rational and free.  Animals cannot reason out and can never make their choices. They are determined by their instincts. We humans on the other hand can control our life, can choose what to do, and can make decisions on our own because of our freedom and our being rational beings. Man is in nature, selfish. We have the tendency to think of our self alone, of what can make us happy, of what can satisfy us. Our being “ego-centered” is natural in our being human. We want to secure our very self first before we think and care for others. Our being selfish as a tendency comes from our desire to survive in life. Survival is the most basic act of man. We will do everything in order to survive. The selfishness and the greediness we humans have, comes from our desire and will to survive. If all of us become greedy, conflict happens in each one of us. That is why, life is a war of all wars. Because of this, Social Contract is applied to solve the problem.

Social Contract Theory refers to the contract or agreement applied in us humans, limiting our actions to what is ought to be, in order for us to achieve peace and order in the society or in the place where we are.  In that way, man will not abuse his/her freedom, doing only what is proper and moral. It is applied from small matters to bigger matters. It existed long time ago but Thomas Hobbes was the first to make it famous in the language of philosophy through his book entitled “Leviathan.” Social Contract is presently universal and global trending. It is applied wherever we are in today’s world. It is also applied even in the uncivilized places and in the tribal groups.

Here in the seminary, social contract is also applied. It is applied in the seminary rules and regulations written in the “Student Manual.” They are written there for us to review anytime the rules and regulations and be aware of them. The writing of the rules and regulations in the Student Manual made it a contract which obligates us, the seminarians to follow them. Following the rules, makes the seminary a place of peace and order. Not following or disobedience to what is written in the manual creates conflict and disorder. Any disobedience done by a seminarian merits punishment. In that way, seminarians will avoid any misdemeanours and will follow the rules that are written in the Student Manual.

In summary, Social Contract refers to the contract or agreement applied in us humans, limiting our actions to what is ought to be, in order for us to achieve peace and order in the society or in the place where we are. It is presently global trending and applied wherever we go. Social Contract brings order and peace to a place, organization, community, small groups of people and society. It is applied because of the reality that man will abuse his/her freedom in order to achieve what he/she wants in order to survive. Man is selfish in nature. We have the tendency of thinking and saving our very self alone. In order to avoid this, social contract is applied through rules and regulations, do’s and don’t’s, through laws. It avoids conflict and brings order. One of the best examples of the social contract in the seminary is the Student Manual, wherein the rules and regulations of the seminary are written. Writing the rules and regulations in the manual makes it as a contract or an agreement of the seminarians to the seminary.