Social contract theory says that
people live together in society in accordance with an agreement that establishes moral and political rules of behavior
. … Indeed, regardless of whether social contracts are explicit or implicit, they provide a valuable framework for harmony in society.
The theory of an implicit social contract holds that by remaining in the territory controlled by some society, which usually has a government,
people give consent to join that society and be governed by its government if any
. This consent is what gives legitimacy to such a government.
The aim of a social contract theory is
to show that members of some society have reason to endorse and comply with the fundamental social rules, laws, institutions, and/or principles of that society
.
Social Contract:
Each citizen volunteers to give up some rights in order to protect society and provide stability so
that all people can thrive.
The social contract is unwritten, and is inherited at birth. It dictates that we will not break laws or certain moral codes and, in exchange, we reap the benefits of our society, namely
security, survival, education and other necessities needed to live
.
social contract, in political philosophy,
an actual or hypothetical compact, or agreement, between the ruled or between the ruled and their rulers, defining the rights and duties of each
. … They then, by exercising natural reason, formed a society (and a government) by means of a social contract.
Analysis. Rousseau’s central argument in The Social Contract is
that government attains its right to exist and to govern by “the consent of the governed
.” Today this may not seem too extreme an idea, but it was a radical position when The Social Contract was published.
A social contract theory has played major role in enhancing political democracy in western political theory. …
Social contract enhanced the history of freedom
. Each individual was entrusted with own rights which no other person could deprive, unless by law which binds the citizens (Kelly & Boucher 1994, p. 209).
The social contract was introduced by early modern thinkers—
Hugo Grotius, Thomas Hobbes, Samuel Pufendorf, and John Locke
the most well-known among them—as an account of two things: the historical origins of sovereign power and the moral origins of the principles that make sovereign power just and/or legitimate.
Through a legitimate government via a social contract, no war exists between people since all political power is rested in an entity, such as a government, that all people consent to. Hence,
liberty is enhanced for all
.
A social contract is the compact that the people agree form rules and conditions for membership in their society. The
belief that all persons are entitled to equal rights and treatment before the law
. Occurs after people leave the state of nature.
Social contract. Initially proposed by Socrates, this was
an agreement between people of a society to abide by laws and accept punishment
(if you live in a society, you agree to follow the rules). People agree to sacrifice some liberty in order to gain more protection. You just studied 6 terms!
The agreement with which a person enters into civil society. … By proposing a social contract, Rousseau
hopes to secure the civil freedom that should accompany life in society
. This freedom is tempered by an agreement not to harm one’s fellow citizens, but this restraint leads people to be moral and rational.
In simple terms, Locke’s social contract theory says:
government was created through the consent of the people to be ruled by the majority
, “(unless they explicitly agree on some number greater than the majority),” and that every man once they are of age has the right to either continue under the government they were …
The theory of social contract is
still relevant in our contemporary political philosophy
regarding the issue of the political authority legitimization.
- to respect. to be polite and considerate of.
- encouragement. the action of giving someone support and hope.
- integrity. honesty from within yourself.
- dignity. self-respect; sense of worth.
- leadership. ability to lead or guide.
- communication. …
- to be wise. …
- accountability.