Social Contract Theory

Definition

Social contract theory is a philosophical concept that suggests the legitimacy of governmental authority derives from an implicit agreement between the government and the people. It proposes that individuals surrender certain rights to a governing body in exchange for the protection of their remaining rights and the maintenance of social order.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Social contract theory was influential in the development of the ideas that led to the Glorious Revolution in England, which established the supremacy of Parliament over the monarchy.
2. During the American Revolution, social contract theory was used to justify the colonists' right to overthrow the British government, which they believed had violated the social contract.
3. Thomas Paine's pamphlet 'Common Sense' drew heavily on social contract theory to argue for the establishment of an independent American republic, rather than continued rule by the British monarchy.
4. The American Founders incorporated elements of social contract theory into the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, such as the idea of unalienable rights and the consent of the governed.
5. Social contract theory continues to be debated and interpreted in different ways, with some philosophers emphasizing the importance of individual rights and others focusing more on the obligations of citizens to the state.

Review Questions

• Explain how social contract theory influenced the Glorious Revolution in England.
  • Social contract theory was a key philosophical underpinning of the Glorious Revolution in England. The idea that the government derived its legitimacy from an implicit agreement with the people, and that the people had a right to overthrow a government that violated that agreement, was used to justify the overthrow of the Stuart monarchy and the establishment of Parliament's supremacy. The Glorious Revolution marked a significant shift in the balance of power between the monarch and the people, setting the stage for the development of constitutional monarchy in England.
• Describe how social contract theory was used to support the American colonists' arguments for independence during the American Revolution.
  • During the American Revolution, social contract theory was a central argument used by the colonists to justify their right to overthrow British rule. The colonists believed that the British government had violated the social contract by infringing on their natural rights, such as life, liberty, and property, without their consent. Drawing on the ideas of philosophers like John Locke, the colonists argued that they had the right, and even the duty, to establish a new government that would better protect their rights. This philosophical foundation was a key part of the colonists' justification for declaring independence and forming a new republic.
• Analyze the influence of social contract theory on the political ideas and institutions established in the United States after the American Revolution.
  • The principles of social contract theory had a profound influence on the political ideas and institutions established in the United States after the American Revolution. The Declaration of Independence's assertion of unalienable rights and the consent of the governed as the basis for legitimate government was directly inspired by social contract theory. The Constitution's system of checks and balances and the Bill of Rights can also be seen as attempts to enshrine the social contract's protection of individual rights and limit the power of the state. Furthermore, the ongoing debates over the proper balance between individual liberty and the authority of the government in the United States can be traced back to the underlying tensions within social contract theory itself. The legacy of social contract theory continues to shape American political discourse and institutions to this day.

Related terms

Natural Rights: Fundamental rights that all people are entitled to, such as life, liberty, and property, which exist independently of government or society.

Social Compact: The voluntary agreement among individuals to form a government and live under its authority in exchange for protection of their natural rights.

Consent of the Governed: The principle that a government's authority and legitimacy is derived from the people's acceptance and approval of that government.