Social Contract TheorySocial Contract Theory

Social Contract Social Contract

a concept used in philosophy and political a concept used in philosophy and political science to define an agreement within a state science to define an agreement within a state regarding the rights and responsibilities of the regarding the rights and responsibilities of the state and its citizensstate and its citizens

All members of a society are assumed to agree All members of a society are assumed to agree to the terms of the social contract by their choice to the terms of the social contract by their choice to stay within the society without violating the to stay within the society without violating the contract and returning to the state of nature contract and returning to the state of nature

What is the US’s Social Contract? What is the US’s Social Contract?

The US ConstitutionThe US Constitution

The US’s Social Contract, The US’s Social Contract, or Constitution is the or Constitution is the longest surviving contract longest surviving contract between any government between any government and its people in the and its people in the modern world.modern world.

Why do you think that is?Why do you think that is?

Social Contract PhilosophersSocial Contract Philosophers

Jean Jacques RousseauJean Jacques Rousseau

June 28, 1712 – July 2, 1778June 28, 1712 – July 2, 1778

Geneva-born philosopher of Geneva-born philosopher of the Enlightenment whose the Enlightenment whose political ideas influenced the political ideas influenced the French Revolution French Revolution

Social Contract PhilosophersSocial Contract Philosophers

John LockeJohn Locke

Aug 29, 1632 – Oct 28, 1704Aug 29, 1632 – Oct 28, 1704

British Philosopher who had British Philosopher who had an enormous influence on an enormous influence on the development of political the development of political philosophy and the philosophy and the EnlightenmentEnlightenment

Social Contract PhilosophersSocial Contract Philosophers

Thomas HobbesThomas Hobbes

April 5, 1588–Dec 4, 1679April 5, 1588–Dec 4, 1679

English philosopher, whose English philosopher, whose famous 1651 book famous 1651 book LeviathanLeviathan set the agenda set the agenda for nearly all subsequent for nearly all subsequent Western political Western political philosophy. philosophy.

Social Contract TheorySocial Contract Theory

a political theory that attempts to explain the a political theory that attempts to explain the justification and purpose of the state and of justification and purpose of the state and of human rightshuman rights

Hobbes' argued that without society, we would Hobbes' argued that without society, we would live in a state of nature, where we each have live in a state of nature, where we each have unlimited natural freedoms, therefore this unlimited natural freedoms, therefore this contract should be fixed.contract should be fixed.

What could be a problem with this?What could be a problem with this?

Social Contract TheorySocial Contract Theory

Locke and Rousseau argue that this Locke and Rousseau argue that this contract is not fixed and it must be to the contract is not fixed and it must be to the benefit of allbenefit of all

If it is not, there must be a way to change If it is not, there must be a way to change it. What could be some of these ways?it. What could be some of these ways?

Social Contract TheorySocial Contract Theory

Since rights come from agreeing to the contract, Since rights come from agreeing to the contract, those who don’t comply by committing crimes, those who don’t comply by committing crimes, risk losing some of their rights, and the rest of risk losing some of their rights, and the rest of society can be expected to protect itself against society can be expected to protect itself against criminals.criminals.

What are some ways to lose your rights?What are some ways to lose your rights?

To be a member of society is to accept To be a member of society is to accept responsibility for following its rules, along with responsibility for following its rules, along with the threat of punishment for violating them.the threat of punishment for violating them.

Effects of Social Contract TheoryEffects of Social Contract Theory

The Social Contract Theory grew out of The Social Contract Theory grew out of the Enlightenment period. What were the Enlightenment period. What were some political/social/economic some political/social/economic characteristics of that time?characteristics of that time?

What are some examples in history where What are some examples in history where this theory was applied to societies?this theory was applied to societies?