Social contract theory, as propounded by various authors, is a political and moral philosophy that seeks to explain the origin and nature of social order and the legitimacy of governmental authority. This theory holds that individuals agree to give up some of their individual rights and freedoms in exchange for protection by the government. In this article, we will define social contract theory as propounded by various authors and discuss its key aspects.
Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau are some of the prominent philosophers who formulated social contract theory. Thomas Hobbes` work “Leviathan” is regarded as a classic exposition of social contract theory. According to Hobbes, human beings are by nature selfish, violent, and competitive, and without any government or authority, human life would be solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short. Thus, people enter into a social contract, giving up their individual rights and freedoms, to create a powerful and absolute monarch who can maintain law and order and prevent the chaos that would arise in the absence of authority.
John Locke, in his book “Two Treatises of Government,” argues that the primary purpose of a government is to protect individual rights to life, liberty, and property. Locke believed that people are born with natural rights and that government is created to protect these rights. According to Locke, if the government fails to protect individual rights, the people have the right to overthrow it.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau, in his book “The Social Contract,” argued that people are naturally good but that society corrupts them. Rousseau believed that the government should be based on the will of the people and that people should be governed by a general will that represents the common good. According to Rousseau, the social contract is not between individuals and the state, but between individuals themselves.
In modern times, social contract theory has been used to justify democratic forms of government. Social contract theorists argue that democratic governments are the most legitimate form of government because they are based on the will of the people. They believe that people give their consent to be governed by electing representatives who will uphold their rights and interests.
In conclusion, social contract theory is a fundamental concept in political philosophy that seeks to explain the origins of social order and the legitimacy of governmental authority. This theory holds that individuals agree to give up some of their individual rights and freedoms in exchange for protection by the government. The works of Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau are some of the most notable contributions to social contract theory. Social contract theory has been used to justify democratic forms of government and remains a relevant concept in modern politics.
