The social contract theory

Social contract theory, nearly as old as philosophy itself, is the view that persons moral andor political obligations are dependent upon a contract or agreement. 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. Social contract, in political philosophy, an actual or hypothetical compact, or agreement, between the ruled and their rulers, defining the rights and duties of each. In moral and political philosophy, the social contract is a theory or model that originated during the. Those living under a government are parties to a social contract. Slaveholders used it to support states rights and succession, whig party moderates upheld the social contract as a symbol of continuity in government, and abolitionists found support in lockes theories of natural rights. Social contract theory definition of social contract. In primeval times, according to the theory, individuals were born into an anarchic state of nature, which was happy or unhappy according to the particular version. Social contract theory says that people live together in society in accordance with an agreement that establishes moral and political rules of behavior. Pdf summary of social contract theory by hobbes, locke. A usually implicit agreement among the members of an organized society or between the governed and the government defining and limiting the rights and. 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, andor principles of that society. Social contract theory is the idea that society exists because of an implicitly agreedto set of standards that provide moral and political rules of. Each side has obligations which must be met for the contract to be valid.

The origins of social contract theory come from platos writings. Man s life in the state of nature was one of fear and. During the antebellum and civil war periods, social contract theory was used by all sides. Each person agrees to follow the laws of the state on the condition that everyone else does the. In fact, morality and politics were seen as linked. A usually implicit agreement among the members of an organized society or between the governed and the government defining and limiting the rights and duties of each.

Social contract theory is a cynical, but possibly realistic, view of humanity without rules and people to enforce the rules. Then the paper points out the state of nature according to hobbes, locke and. Today we explore the penultimate ethical theory in this unit. It discusses what is the social contract theory and the reason. Social contract theory is the belief that societies exist through a mutual contract between individuals, and the state exists to serve the will of the people. The ultimate goal of statefocused social contract theories is to show that. Summary of social contract theory by hobbes, locke and. Social contract theory the authority to rule is granted to the government by the people who make a contract with the government. Social contract theory challenged both the moral and political elements of traditional sources of power in europe.

Contemporary approaches to the social contract stanford. This consent is what gives legitimacy to such a government. Social contract theory according to plato, hobbes, locke, and rousseau. Social contract theory is another descriptive theory about society and the relationship between rules and laws, and why society needs them. Ap government social contract theory flashcards quizlet.

Study 17 terms the social contract flashcards quizlet. Pdf summary of social contract theory by hobbes, locke and. The aim of a social contract theory is to show that members of some. Social contract theory internet encyclopedia of philosophy. Hank explains hobbes state of nature, and implicit and explicit contracts, as well as.