Overview
Social contract theories are foundational concepts in political philosophy that explore how individuals come together to form societies and establish governance. These theories suggest that individuals consent to certain rules and authority in exchange for protection and social order. Key figures li...
Key Terms
Example: The social contract suggests that citizens agree to follow laws in exchange for protection.
Example: Citizens give consent to be governed by voting in elections.
Example: Government authority is derived from the social contract.
Example: Locke emphasized natural rights to life, liberty, and property.
Example: Citizens have an obligation to follow laws for societal order.
Example: Hobbes argued that without government, life would be 'solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.'