This document discusses the origins and foundations of social science. It traces social science back to ancient Greek philosophers like Plato and Aristotle who inquired into ethics, human nature, and the organization of societies and governments. These philosophers laid the groundwork for later disciplines like political science, anthropology, sociology and history. The document also examines 17th century thinkers like Hobbes, Locke, Montesquieu and Rousseau and their influential ideas about government, power, and social contracts between rulers and citizens.