The document discusses the concept of the social contract and its origins and influence on the founding of the United States. It describes how the social contract theory arose in the 17th century with philosophers like Hugo Grotius who argued that individuals have natural rights and power comes from individuals. John Locke further developed this by arguing that governments only legitimacy comes from the consent of the governed to protect their lives, liberty, and property. The social contract theory sees society as formed by individuals coming together in a moral agreement and is the basis of the Declaration of Independence and US Constitution.

1. Dunbar
Merrill,
Author:
CRAZY
SH*T
REPUBLICANS
SAY
Social Contract
“If men were angels, no government
would be necessary.” - James Madison
America was created under the principled philosophy of social
contract. This wasn’t a new philosophy by any means and it in fact
had been argued, preached, and practiced as far back as 400 BC in
ancient Greece. The tenants of the social contract however didn’t
become popular, or at least well documented until the early 17th
century. When in 1625, Hugo Grotius presented the idea of “natural
rights”. Grotius declared that people were “sui juris” (under their own
jurisdiction). In his explanation for a moral beginning to society,
Grotius states that, “even if we were to concede what we cannot
concede without the utmost wickedness, that there is no God, these
laws would still hold.”
This was a very radical sentiment and was perceived as inflammatory
to both the church and state. As it suggested that true power is in the
hands of the individual, and can be returned to the individual if
governing institutions fail to protect the “natural rights” of the people.
After establishing the notion that everyone has natural rights and is
under first and foremost their own control, Hugo Grotius expounds
that all individuals are entitled to provide for and preserve
themselves. This moral agreement all individuals share with one
another should ensure against the interfering with of each individual’s
right to the pursuit of happiness and avoidance of pain, and that any
breach of these rights ought to be punished, thus the necessity of
governance.
Dunbar
Merrill,
Author:
CRAZY
SH*T
REPUBLICANS
SAY

2. Dunbar
Merrill,
Author:
CRAZY
SH*T
REPUBLICANS
SAY
John Locke, who furthered the notion of a social contract, was greatly
influential as an Enlightenment writer, to the point that he was often
quoted by our founding fathers. Locke argued governments only
legitimacy comes from the individuals it governs giving the state the
right to protect their interest. Locke proclaimed the formation of the
state was only to protect the “lives, liberty, and property” of those who
lived within it. The social contract is the very basis of the Declaration
of Independence and the Constitution.
“Government derives it’s just powers from
the consent of the governed.” - John Locke
As human beings we make all decisions based on the pursuit of
pleasure and the avoidance of pain. This is a fact of both psychology
& sociology, and is what most connects us behaviorally to every other
living species. How humans advance from this basic instinct of
choice is by the formation of society. The social contract is an
intellectual explanation of how and why society forms and governs
itself. What makes it so relevant is that it explicates how the basis of
society lies in morality and ethical behavior. Though, this has been
convoluted through millennia of control by religious institutions and
inherited rights of power.
Dunbar
Merrill,
Author:
CRAZY
SH*T
REPUBLICANS
SAY