Social Contract

Social Contract Theory

Explain the meaning of the Social Contract Theory

Social contract theories help to explain the relationship between a government and its people. There have been a few major theorists on this topic; including John Locke, Thomas Hobbes, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Each theorist had his own idea on how each government should be run. Locke came up with the theory of natural rights; Hobbes supported an absolute monarchy, while Rousseau had ideas of collective sovereignty in the name of the general will. The United State’s Declaration of Independence was written from John Locke theory.

Locke believes that people in a state of nature would come together to form a state on their own. He believed that people of a state would be ruled by the “Law of Nature”. The Law of Nature basically says that individuals should not harm one another, but without a government to control the ones wanting to harm others then people would live in fear of their rights. He said that people would form a state built around a government that would protect their lives, their freedom, and property. Locke also believed in freedoms under law which he further explains in one of his government theories. He said that citizens of a state would fight for self preservation and that a government should be put in place to act for the protection of its people, not to have absolute control.

Thomas Hobbes was one of the first social contract theorists. Hobbes strongly believed in the idea of an absolute monarchy. He thought that social life would be total anarchy without the presence of a strong leadership or sovereignty. He thought that with a total leader life would become less of a total battle of everyone against everyone. Without a leader with power above the people there would be too much conflict because no one would be able to impose social laws when needed. Hobbes theory later turned into his book, “Leviathan”, which meant the most massive of its kind, like a king....