62 CRAIG HENDERSON
effectively lose that intrinsic justness that follows from true voluntary consent (tacit
or otherwise).
In conclusion, this essay has shown that Hume is correct in dismissing the views of
the other contract theorists who claim that existing governme nts are founded on
consent between citizens and those in power. Hume is convincing in saying that when
Locke stretches tacit consent to cover such activities as remaining in the country and
availing of state-funded projects and initiatives, we are basing consent in actions
which are somewhat less than voluntary, thus losing any value which consent holds.
In addition, we have seen how Hume shows that promising is an unnecessary addition
beyond the binding force that obligations obtain through us simply observing the
benefits that their existence brings to society as a whole.
Bibliography
Hardin, R. (2007) David Hume: Moral and Political Theorist. Oxford University
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Hobbes, T. (2008) Leviathan. Edited by J. C. A. Gaskin. Oxford University Press.
Hume, D. (1985) A Treatise of Human Nature. Edited by E. Campbell Mossner.
London: Penguin.
Hume, D. (1987) ‘Of the Original Contract’ in Miller, E. (ed.) David Hume Essays:
Moral, Political, and Literary. Indianapolis: Liberty Fund Inc, 465-487.
Locke, J. (1947) Two Treatises of Government. Edited by T. I. Cook. New York:
Hafner Publishing.
Scott, J. (ed.) (2014) The Major Political Writings of Jean-Jacques Rousseau: the
Two Discourses and the Social Contract. University of Chicago Press.