The Social Contract

The Social Contract theory is the understand that an individual living in a state gives up certain natural rights and transferring those rights to the someone else (ie the state), with the understanding that everyone else has to give up the same natural rights. This contract is meant to ensure to stability and social welfare of the people. In John Locke’s Two Treaties of Government, Thomas Hobbes’ Leviathan, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s The Social Contract and The Discourses they examine this…

The Milgram Experiment - Examining the Role of Authority in the Social Contract Using Foucault as a Basis Authority serves as the adhesive which binds all members of society to their roles within the social contract. Michel Foucault explains how authority in the modern disciplinary society could be better enforced by establishing proper hierarchies and creating confinements and labels for the undesirables in society (Foucault, D&P p. 224 & M&C p. 37-38, 1975 & 1988). In the Milgram experiment,…

John Locke's Social Contract Theory is particularly reflected in the Constitution of India. As indicated by Locke's hypothesis, man in the 'state of Nature' wanted to secure their property and with the end goal of protection of their property, men went into the "Social Contract". Under the agreement, individuals met up and made two unison - Pactum Unionis and Pactum Subjectionis. The Preamble to the Constitution of India begins with the phrase “WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved…

The social contract is an intentional arrangement whereby individuals, groups, government, as well as, socialites share mutual benefits. It is defined as an individual’s political roles as well as morals in regards to the agreement that is made by such individuals in establishing a society where they reside (Lessnoff, 1990). The theory has been discussed by various philosophers and scholars such as Hobbes and Rousseau, who have indicated that social contrasts have defined the community today.…

Social Contract Theory: Stranded after an airplane crash. The Social Contract Theory states “We are all by nature largely, or entirely, self-interested. What we want is power over others, physical security, plenty of money and sensual pleasure.” (pg. 194). However, not everyone can be on the top of the heap. Therefore, if we are rational, we will each agree to curb our self-interest and cooperate with one another. (pg. 194) In the scenario given, we have two options. Take control or enter…

researchscholar.co.in Impact Factor 0.793 (IIFS) Research Scholar ISSN 2320 – 6101 An International Refereed e-Journal of Literary Explorations Vol. 2 Issue IV November, 2014 The relationship between man and society is ambivalent. Rousseau, in his book The Social Contract, professed, “Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains.” (Rousseau, 1) The freedom of the individual is curtailed by socially imposed moral boundaries. Morality has become a convenient camouflage for strangulating the…

Social contract theory concentrates on the innovation of the laws and states, and the impact states or controlled communities have on an individual. All types of social contract theory can eventually come down to this: the aspiration for security, or well-being, requests for satisfaction through a common compliance. This common understanding changes the human domain from the natural, primitive state, into a composed society. In spite of the fact that the idea of the social contract is…

other members of society, these agreements are referred as social contracts. Social contracts protect people from abuse of power and violations of their basic rights. An example of a social contract is the agreement between the police force and civilians; we sacrifice our freedom for social protection. The aim of this paper is to analyze the positive and negative aspects of a social contract. Two great examples of how people use a social contract to organize themselves in society are marriage…

In his books “The Discourse of Inequality” and “The Social Contract” Jean-Jacques Rousseau supported ideas such as the abolition of private property, the unnaturalness of inequalities or the government by the common people (Delaney). 150 years later, ideas of the same nature were stated in the “Communist Manifesto” of Karl Marx, the book which led to the Russian October Revolution in 1917(Trotsky). Jean Jacques Rousseau was a French philosopher who lived in the 18th century (Enlightenment). He…

Ju Lin Philosophy 10200 Final 5/18/16 A fair society can be developed by effective contract and agreement. Sometimes, a citizen needs to sacrifice a part of his or her interest to protect the social benefit. Only when all citizens are able to accept and follow the social ethics and contract, can they understand the social constraints and keep their personal willpowers. Therefore, the unity between social discipline and freedom can be realized, as well as the solidarity between personal…