Sep 26, 2025 · Social contract, in political philosophy, an actual or hypothetical compact, or agreement, between the ruled and their rulers, defining the rights and duties of each.

From this shared premise, social contract theorists aim to demonstrate why rational individuals would voluntarily relinquish their natural freedom in exchange for the benefits of political order.

Feb 11, 2025 · The social contract is a foundational concept in both political philosophy and sociology, rooted in the idea that individuals collectively agree to form a society and abide by …

Social contract theory, nearly as old as philosophy itself, is the view that persons’ moral and/or political obligations are dependent upon a contract or agreement among them to form the …

Oct 10, 2024 · Social contract theory is a political and moral theory that asserts that individuals give up some of their individual freedoms in exchange for protection and security provided by …

Aug 27, 2023 · A social contract is an agreement among individuals within a social group to abide by certain rules and laws for mutual safety and defence. In its modern form, the idea was …

Apr 28, 2025 · The term "social contract" refers to the idea that the state exists only to serve the will of the people, who are the source of all political power enjoyed by the state.

Oct 20, 2023 · The Social Contract Theory, developed by Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau, proposes that the state is a result of an agreement among individuals to form a political …

Learn how the Framers conceived of a social contract, shaped by their historical context, and how they embedded this principle in the founding documents: the Declaration of Independence and …

Oct 16, 2025 · The meaning of SOCIAL CONTRACT is an actual or hypothetical agreement among the members of an organized society or between a community and its ruler that defines …