Social Contract
Definition
The Social Contract is a theory that people live together in society in accordance with an agreement that establishes moral and political rules of behavior. It suggests that people give up some freedoms to a government or other authority in order to receive or maintain social order.
Analogy
Think of the Social Contract as a group project agreement. Everyone agrees to contribute their part (give up some freedom) for the success of the project (social order). If someone doesn't do their part, it affects everyone else.
Related terms
Natural Rights: These are rights inherent in human beings, not dependent on governments, which include life, liberty, and property.
Sovereignty: This refers to the full right and power of a governing body over itself without any interference from outside sources or bodies.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau: A philosopher who greatly influenced the social contract theory. He believed that democracy (the general will) was the best way of ensuring welfare while maintaining individual freedom under the law.
"Social Contract" appears in:
Study guides (2)
Practice Questions (6)
- Which political philosopher argued for a social contract and the natural rights of life, liberty and property?
- To whom did Rousseau address his ideas about the "social contract" in his work of the same name?
- Who formulated the idea of social contract in his book "The Social Contract" in Enlightenment period?
- In contrast to Thomas Hobbes' concept of absolutism, which philosopher proposed a social contract with shared power between governance and people?
- Which Enlightenment thinker's ideas on social contract greatly influenced political developments of the 18th century?
- How did the historical situation influence Rousseau's ideas in his 'Social Contract,' which played a significant role in the French Revolution?
Resources
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