The political state is a free-willed creation of reflective individual citizens. Such is the directive issued by Modern philosophy, and which we take for granted in liberal democracy. According to Social Contract theory, articulated principally by Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau, humans leave a state of nature to create and enter the political sphere, which they willingly, intelligently inaugurate through a mutual ‘contract.’ Living independently in a state of nature, while perhaps preferable in some respects, is ultimately unsustainable. For humans to effectively pursue and achieve personal ends, and find fulfillment, whatever shape that may take, they must sacrifice absolute freedom in nature, to live together in security. The salient point for the discussion at hand is that, as Social Contract theory has it, individuals conceive of their goals prior to or independently of the political community. The polis is reduced to a mere platform, if you will, a stage that permits or enables us to pursue what we want, in relative peace and harmony.