Francis Fukuyama’s recent works on political order and political decay indicate that he has not given up on his earlier philosophy of “the end of history.” Instead, they are tracing back from where human history will end with liberal democracy, or even an endorsement of the political history of “the end.” Nevertheless, there is a subtle yet significant change in Fukuyama’s discussion, i.e., the shift of emphasis from liberal democracy to state capacity building. The change can be explained by the transitioning of his major concern from human history to American politics. Meanwhile, there is another back-tracing, i.e., the logical back-tracing from “the end.” The historical survey of the social contract theory in Western society reveals the moral norms and principles hidden behind institutional ideals and the connection between state capacity and the principle of preserving life. Thus, it is necessary to independently put forward and prioritize the principle of preserving life.