Social Contract Theory

Definition

Social Contract Theory is a political philosophy that suggests that individuals consent, either explicitly or implicitly, to form a society and establish a government in exchange for protection of their rights and maintenance of social order. This concept is closely tied to Enlightenment thinkers who advocated for the idea that government derives its legitimacy from the consent of the governed, fundamentally challenging the divine right of kings and traditional forms of authority.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Social Contract Theory emerged during the Enlightenment as a response to absolute monarchy and traditional authority, emphasizing reason and individual rights.
2. Hobbes believed that individuals in a state of nature would agree to surrender some freedoms for security provided by a strong central authority.
3. Locke's version of the social contract emphasizes the importance of protecting natural rights and posits that citizens have a right to overthrow a government that violates these rights.
4. Rousseau introduced the idea that the social contract is an agreement among free individuals to create a collective 'general will' that represents the common good.
5. The principles of Social Contract Theory greatly influenced revolutionary movements in America and France, as people began to demand governments accountable to their citizens.

Review Questions

• How does Social Contract Theory reflect the ideas of Enlightenment thinkers regarding individual rights and governance?
  • Social Contract Theory reflects Enlightenment ideas by promoting the belief that governments should be established based on the consent of the governed. Enlightenment thinkers like Locke and Rousseau argued that individuals possess natural rights that must be protected by the state. This shift from viewing rulers as divinely appointed to seeing them as accountable to the people was revolutionary and laid the groundwork for modern democracy.
• Compare and contrast Hobbes' and Locke's perspectives on Social Contract Theory and its implications for government authority.
  • Hobbes viewed the social contract as a necessary agreement where individuals surrender their freedoms to an absolute sovereign in exchange for security, reflecting a pessimistic view of human nature. In contrast, Locke believed in a more optimistic view where individuals retain their natural rights, insisting that government authority is conditional upon protecting those rights. This fundamental difference led Locke to advocate for the right to revolt against unjust governments, which significantly influenced democratic thought.
• Evaluate how Social Contract Theory has impacted modern political systems and concepts of citizenship.
  • Social Contract Theory has profoundly impacted modern political systems by introducing ideas of legitimacy based on consent and accountability. It laid the groundwork for concepts like democracy, where citizens are active participants in governance rather than subjects under tyranny. By establishing the notion that governments must protect individual rights or risk being overthrown, it has shaped discussions around citizenship, civil rights, and responsibilities in contemporary society.

Related terms

Natural Rights:

Fundamental rights believed to be inherent to all human beings, such as life, liberty, and property, which social contract theorists argue must be protected by governments.

Thomas Hobbes:

A philosopher known for his work 'Leviathan,' where he argues that without a social contract, life would be 'solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short' due to the inherent selfishness of humans.

John Locke:

An influential thinker who expanded on social contract theory by emphasizing that government must protect individual rights and that people have the right to revolt if it fails to do so.