Social Contract (Noun)
Meaning
An implicit agreement among people that results in the organization of society; individual surrenders liberty in return for protection.
Classification
Nouns denoting natural processes.
Examples
- The concept of social contract has been a cornerstone of political philosophy, arguing that individuals submit to the authority of the state in exchange for protection and stability.
- The idea of a social contract suggests that people are willing to sacrifice some of their personal freedoms in order to live in a safe and organized society.
- John Locke's version of the social contract theory posits that individuals have the right to rebel against a government that fails to uphold its end of the agreement.
- In modern societies, the social contract is often viewed as an implicit agreement between citizens and their government, where individuals receive certain rights and services in exchange for paying taxes and obeying laws.
- Thomas Hobbes argued that humans would live in a state of war without a social contract, and that a strong central authority is necessary to maintain order and protect individuals from harm.