Social Contract Theory On The Origin Of State - 3694 Words

SOCIAL CONTRACT THEORY 1. INTRODUCTION: The social contract theory is one of the oldest theories on the origin of state. This theory came into existence as a reaction against the divine origin theory. The term ‘social’ is something which is connected with the society, while ‘contract’ means an agreement between two or more people. Thus a term of political theory, ‘social contract’ implies an agreement that makes society possible .this theory holds that the state is the voluntary and deliberate agreement on the part of the people those who emerged from the state of nature, in order to form a state based on a contract between the people and the sovereign and is not made by the god and thus implies that the state is a man`s deliberate creation to serve his needs. The core idea behind this theory is an assumption that there was a period in human history, when there was no state at all and no political law existed. The idea that the power to the ruler is given based on some kind of agreeme nt between him and his subjects is quite old. The social contract theory envisages a state of nature where there were no organised government and rulers. There were no man made laws and no authority to govern the people .the state of nature was prepolitical the idea of social contract divides the state into two phases, i.e. one is the state of nature which was the life of the people before the state came into existence and second is the creation of the state as a result of the contract enteredShow MoreRelatedSocial Contract Theory On The Origin Of State1110 Words   |  5 PagesSOCIAL CONTRACT THEORY Introduction: The social contract theory is one of the oldest theories on the origin of state. This theory came into existence as a reaction against the divine origin theory. The term ‘social’ is something which is connected with the society, while ‘contract’ means an agreement between two or more people. Thus a term of political theory, ‘social contract’ implies an agreement that makes society possible .this theory holds that the state is the voluntary and deliberate agreementRead MorePolitics And State : Government And Politics1239 Words   |  5 Pagesare essential to political science are nation and state. These words will be heard in any discussion surrounding government and politics, especially when discussed on the international sphere. Often used interchangeably these words are not the same. Nation and state are two distinct words, but state is the only word that does not have a definite origin. However, both words have been given power through the t oxic idea of nationalism. Nation and state are two critical terms in the study of politics andRead MoreSocial Contract Is The Formidable Obelisk For Peacebuilding And Statebuilding1269 Words   |  6 Pages Social Contract is the formidable obelisk for peacebuilding and statebuilding. One of the oldest and widely cited Social Contract theories is the one of theorist’s John Rawls. His theory proposed an objective perspective of the Social Contract concept that was rooted from medieval Europe, this widely accepted principle that â€Å"all men are by nature free and equal† (Lessnoff, 1990, p. 3) made Rawls disparate to his brethren who too theorized this concept. Rawls rendition of the theory was not onlyRead MoreHuman Nature Is Good, And Being A Beast1165 Words   |  5 Pagesfelt that the natural state of man was beast-like, and savage. Thus, he felt that it is civilization that influences and challenges humanity from our fundamental wickedness. Within his view, human nature is dangerous; which can only be rescued through culture and community. According to Hobbes, being â€Å"civilized† is good, and being a â€Å"beast† is not accepted. Contrast this with th e view of Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Rousseau was an Enlightenment philosopher, and wrote The Social Contract which heavily influencedRead More Pateman On Locke Essays1259 Words   |  6 Pages For years social contract theorists had monopolized the explanation of modern society. John Locke was among those who advocated this theory of a collectively chosen set of circumstances. Carole Pateman, on the other hand rejects many of the pillars of the social contract and specifically attacks certain aspects of Lockes argument regarding paternalism and patriarchy. Pateman defends her idea that the individual about which Locke writes is masculine, instead of the gender-encompassing form of theRead MoreLife Without Laws And Regulations Essay879 Words   |  4 Pagestake away our rights based on the State of nature? The social contract would introduce and maintain a controlled society in which protects people’s rights to life, liberty and protection of ones property. John Rawls a modern philosopher carries on the social contract tradition alongside philosophers Thomas Hobbes, John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau developing his own theory of Justice that he states brings upon complete fairness and equality within society the theory of justice, developed in 1971 withRead MoreCoexistence of Equality and Inequality under the Social Contract1508 Words   |  7 PagesPolitical theories abound, considering many parts of society and the body politic. John Locke was one of the first to expound on the origins of property, and sixty-six years later Jean-Jacques Rousseau would also address the issu es of property and inequality. According to Locke and Rousseau, the social contract is sanctioned by formal equalities yet creates or gives way to inequalities after it is formed. Though Locke would argue that inequalities in the private sphere don’t fall under the jurisdictionRead MoreEvolution and the Modern Social Contract Theory : Essay Outline1050 Words   |  5 PagesThe Emergence of the Modern Social Contract Theory Essay Outline POLS 14033 – Political Ideas and Ideologies The Emergence of the Modern Social Contract Theory Essay Question: Firstly, in this essay, we will describe and analyze the various concepts of the evolution and emergence of the modern social contract theory thru the analysis of several of its key political thinkers. We will provide a detailed review of the concepts that have developed and that were crucial for theRead MoreWeaknesses Of Social Contract Theory928 Words   |  4 PagesSocial Contract theory is the idea that in the beginning people lived in the state of nature with no government and laws to regulate them. In order to overcome the issues involved in the state of nature, people entered into agreements to protect themselves and their properties. They did this by uniting, rescinding certain rights under the state of nature, and pledging themselves to an authority that will guarantee certain protections. They all agree to live together under those laws and create aRead MoreSocial Contract And The Civil Society979 Words   |  4 Pages The social contract and the push for individuals to enter it rely on some conception of a state of nature. Whilst the expected behaviour of persons in the state of nature differs among the social contract theorists, the classical writings all share one common feature, a â€Å"generalised potential for threat† from other persons (Dicus 2015, p. 105). However, the nature of this threat in the hypothetical state of nature is not verifiable, as is the transition to civil society. The â€Å"signing† of the social