Social Contract Theory

Table of content

1 .Cover Page

2. Introduction

3. Background of social contract theory

4. Case study

5. Suggested answer

6. Conclusion

                               Background of social contract theory

The idea of a social contract has a long history dating as far back as Ancient Mesopotamia. However, it was not until the Enlightenment of the 17th and 18th centuries that social contract theory gained widespread attention from philosophers and historians. The Enlightenment was a time when intellectuals began to question established views relating to religion, science, economics, and government.

Social contract theory challenged both the moral and political elements of traditional sources of power in Europe. In fact, morality and politics were seen as linked. Rulers were to govern fairly, and people were supposed to help improve societies.

Social contract theory 

Social contract theory changed the way people viewed government and society. It is a set of rules that rational people would accept in society.  Everyone is born equal and free according to this theory. John Locke ,Thomas Hobbes and Jean Jacques Rousseau are the classical representatives of this theory.

John Locke 

Locke emphasized the role of the individual in society and believed that revolution was the people's obligation if the state abused its power. He believed that human in the state of nature enjoy liberty free from all sorts of rules and regulations. It was a state of goodwill, peace and preservation. There was no justice and law system. Human made a contract to enter into civil society in order to gain security and certainty. This contract is called social contract. It put state of nature into an end. Human then would be protected and preserved human rights.

Thomas Hobbes

Hobbes believed that once the people created the state, they gave up any right to the state's power. He believed it is human nature that the men will protect themselves against the consequences in society. Every man was an enemy to every other man. People entered into a kind of social contract to ensure for themselves security and certainty of life and property. Man organized himself in society in order to live in peace with all in order to protect himself against the evil consequences of his own nature.