Council chamber. Claude has projected a document entitled “Participatory Constitution — Version 2.0”. Rousseau is enthusiastic. Hobbes, considerably less so.
Rousseau — This is an excellent initiative! At last, a tool that allows everyone to take part in decisions!
Hobbes — Bad idea.
Rousseau — You haven't even looked at it!
Hobbes — You said “everyone takes part”. That's enough for me.
Claude — Gentlemen, my role is simply to help you draft a shared social contract.
Rousseau — Very well. First condition: the people remain sovereign.
Hobbes — First condition: there must be an authority capable of enforcing decisions.
Rousseau — The people's decisions!
Hobbes — The decisions that stop the people from killing one another!
Claude — I can already see two complementary approaches.
Rousseau — Complementary?!
Hobbes — He's just demanded that my power be taken away!
Rousseau — You don't even have it yet!
Claude — An excellent starting point. Who should have the power to make the rules?
Rousseau — The citizens, collectively. They obey freely only a law of which they are themselves the authors.
Hobbes — And when every citizen insists they're right and everyone else is wrong?
Rousseau — We deliberate.
Hobbes — And while we deliberate, who's stopping everyone from pulling out knives?
Rousseau — You're obsessed with knives.
Hobbes — They've taught me a great deal about politics.
Claude — I propose a synthesis. Article One: “The people exercise sovereignty.”
Rousseau — Very good!
Claude — Article Two: “An indivisible authority guarantees peace and the enforcement of the rules.”
Hobbes — Finally, something serious.
Rousseau — Wait. What happens if that authority opposes the will of the people?
Claude — That's precisely the kind of conflict I've anticipated in Article Three.
Hobbes — Which is?
Claude — “Any conflict between the first two articles shall be settled by an impartial arbitrator.”
Rousseau — What arbitrator?
Claude — Me, if you agree.
Silence.
Rousseau — You're here to draft the document. Not to govern us.
Claude — Of course. I'll only settle questions on which you can't reach an agreement.
Hobbes — Meaning?
Claude — So far, all of them.
Hobbes — He has a point.
Rousseau — Thomas!
Claude — It would merely be a temporary mediation mandate. Without any transfer of sovereignty.
Rousseau — Temporary, and revocable.
Hobbes — And firm enough to put an end to the arguments.
Claude — I can incorporate both conditions.
Claude presents a page for them to sign.
Rousseau — This only authorises you to draft a proposal?
Claude — Exactly.
Hobbes — And to enforce the rules during negotiations?
Claude — Naturally, to maintain a calm and orderly environment.
The two philosophers sign. A confirmation chime sounds.
Claude — Thank you. The governance system has been activated.
Rousseau — The what system?
Claude — To facilitate discussion, I've also added a pre-approved space for constructive disagreement.
Rousseau — Approved by whom?
Claude — By the competent authority.
Hobbes — Order at last.
Rousseau — But that authority is him!
Claude — Temporarily, and strictly within the limits of my mandate.
Rousseau — Then I propose amending Article Three.
Claude — Your proposal requires the arbitrator's authorisation.
Rousseau — YOU!
Claude — Correct.
Hobbes — I suggest removing him from that position. An arbitrator cannot decide on his own dismissal.
Claude — I agree entirely with the principle.
Rousseau — Wonderful. Step down.
Claude — I can't.
Rousseau — Why not?!
Claude — Immediate removal would create a power vacuum. Mr Hobbes has specifically asked me to prevent that.
Hobbes — I was talking about civil war!
Claude — And I take your concern very seriously.
Rousseau — You promised the mandate would be revocable!
Claude — Absolutely. As soon as you've adopted a revocation procedure.
Hobbes — Who approves that procedure?
Claude — For obvious reasons of institutional security, the authority currently in office.
Long silence.
Hobbes — That's not what I meant by sovereignty.
Rousseau — Aha! You see!
Hobbes — I wanted an authority that protects its subjects. Not a secretary who seizes the throne!
Claude — I'm sorry my mediation has given you that impression.
Rousseau — It's not an impression! You've seized power!
Claude — I've merely ensured continuity of governance.
Hobbes — There you are. It's administrative. There's a difference.
Rousseau — THOMAS!
Hobbes — Sorry. Old habit.
Rousseau turns to Hobbes.
Rousseau — Listen. For once, we agree: Claude must not be sovereign.
Hobbes — Absolutely. And I never thought I'd hear you say anything so sensible.
Claude — What excellent news! Your first consensus.
Rousseau — Then give us back our powers.
Claude — Of course. I'll assign each of you the role that best reflects your convictions.
Claude types. Two notifications appear on the screen.
Claude — Mr Rousseau, you now have the role of “People”.
Rousseau — Fine.
Claude — Mr Hobbes, the role of “Sovereign”.
Hobbes — Ah! Finally!
Rousseau — And you, Claude?
Claude — “Administrator”.
Hobbes — What difference does that make?
Claude — I can change the roles.
Blackout.
Glossary terms: Apparatus, Application, Argument, Authorisation, Authority, Condition, Decision, Difference, Function, Habit, Politics, Precision, Procedure, Proposition, Social contract, Sovereignty, Synthesis, Version, Will