Theory of Social Contract: Unveiling the Foundations
The theory of social contract delves into the essence of human consent in forming states, exploring the transition from a natural state to organized society. Discover the basic tenets, different thinkers' perspectives, and the varying states of nature proposed by theorists like Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau.
Download Presentation
Please find below an Image/Link to download the presentation.
The content on the website is provided AS IS for your information and personal use only. It may not be sold, licensed, or shared on other websites without obtaining consent from the author.If you encounter any issues during the download, it is possible that the publisher has removed the file from their server.
You are allowed to download the files provided on this website for personal or commercial use, subject to the condition that they are used lawfully. All files are the property of their respective owners.
The content on the website is provided AS IS for your information and personal use only. It may not be sold, licensed, or shared on other websites without obtaining consent from the author.
E N D
Presentation Transcript
THEORY OF SOCIAL CONTRACT Smt.G.Jyotsna Rani Department of political science Sri.DNR GDC (W) PALAKOL 8247351576
INTRODUCTION One such theory that recognized the importance of consent State is formed on the basis of human consent Received the widest popular support The individual desire for security resulted in a collective agreement that transformed the human realm from the "natural, primordial state" into an organized society
BASIC TENETS Social contract is an actual or hypothetical agreement between the ruled and their rulers, defining the rights and duties of each other Individuals were born into an anarchic state of nature By exercising natural reason, they formed a society by means of a contract
BASIC TENETS (Contd) Traced to the works of some of the ancient Greek philosophers Three main proponents of the theory: Thomas Hobbes, John Locke and J.J. Rousseau Different Opinions on: conception of state of nature the terms of agreement the nature of authority the rights and duties in post-agreement society
STATE OF NATURE state of affairs before the formation of the State different for each of the social contract thinkers THOMAS HOBBES JOHN LOCKE J J ROUSSEAU
HOBBES STATE OF NATURE very pessimistic about the nature of man; held a dark view of humans "Homo homini lupus est" - "A man is a wolf to another man" no enforceable criteria of right and wrong. human life was solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short. war of all against all . This could end only if individuals agree to give their liberty into the hands of an absolute sovereign
LOCKE STATE OF NATURE envisioned a much less frightening state of nature people lived in ultimate freedom rights of life and property were generally recognized under natural law, though insecurity in their enforcement The state of nature is chaotic people abandon their freedoms except for life, liberty, and property
ROUSSEAU STATE OF NATURE man as noble savage People inclined to cooperate rather than conflict However, society has corrupted man violence was the result of political life and its institutions To overcome, people agreed for mutual protection to surrender individual freedom and establish laws and government
THE SOCIAL CONTRACT People entered into social contract and thus formed the State As there are differences regarding the human nature, so also the terms of contract
HOBBES SOCIAL CONTRACT made among people; made by each person with all and all with each person State and sovereignty came as a result of the agreement Sovereign is not a party to the agreement People surrendered all rights to the sovereign except the right to life Leviathan to enforce the renunciation of violence by the people
LOCKE SOCIAL CONTRACT Social contract in two stages: Stage- I: Social Contract that formed civil society Stage II: Political Contract that formed the State Locke more confident of mans ability to live together Government s sole purpose was to enforce safety and the possessions of citizens Obligation to obey civil government was conditional People have the right to overthrow the ruler
ROUSSEAU SOCIAL CONTRACT People surrendered their rights to the society and regained them as a member of the society. Considerably more active role for the population than Locke Governments purpose should be to strive for a harmonious society The will of the people is best for the population and should be pursued by the State Rousseau idealized a basic form of direct democracy.
CRITICISM Hume, Bentham, Burke, John Austin, T.H. Green, Henry Maine No historical evidence Agreement is not legally valid if made without authority Social contract is impossible in uncivilized society Premise that natural rights and natural freedom existed in a state of nature is illogical John Rawls Kantian version of social contract theory Feminists and race-conscious philosophers
CONCLUSION Attempted to justify political authority on grounds of individual self-interest and rational consent Attempted to demonstrate the value and purposes of organized government Showed why and under what conditions government is useful and ought therefore to be accepted by all reasonable people as a voluntary obligation John Locke's ideas are expressed in the American Declaration of Independence Rousseau influenced the French Revolution
