Social contract
Also known as: political contract
- 1Addresses the legitimacy of state authority.
- 2Conceptualized during the Age of Enlightenment.
- 3Serves as a core pillar of constitutionalism.
- 4Models the relationship between the individual and the state.
In moral and political philosophy, the social contract is an idea, theory, or model that usually, although not always, concerns the legitimacy of the authority of the state over the individual.
Connections1
Theoretical framework for achieving the common good
Many political theories argue that the common good is the primary objective of the social contract, where individuals sacrifice certain freedoms for collective security and benefit.
The social contract is a theoretical model used in moral and political philosophy to explain the legitimacy of the state's authority over the individual. It suggests that individuals consent, either explicitly or implicitly, to surrender some freedoms in exchange for the protection and order provided by a governing body.
The original cover of Thomas Hobbes 's work Leviathan (1651), in which he discusses the concept of the social contract theoryWikimedia Commons; Abraham Bosse; This image has been extracted from another file; CC0; Wikimedia Commons; Wikidata P18 (image) This concept gained significant prominence during the Age of Enlightenment. It serves as a cornerstone of constitutionalism, providing a framework for understanding the relationship between citizens and the government, even in cases where no formal written constitution exists.