Social Contract Theory proposes that individuals in a state of nature came together to form societies and governments through an implicit agreement, or social contract. The key thinkers on social contract theory - Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau - each proposed different views of human nature, the state of nature, and the role of the sovereign. While Hobbes argued for absolute monarchy, Locke advocated for limited monarchy and representational democracy, and Rousseau favored direct democracy with the people as sovereign.

1. Social Contract Theory

2. Social Contract Theory
 Before society we were in the State
of Nature.
 An individual dictated what he/she
could/could not do.
 Survival of the Fittest
 Murder Example…

3. Social Contract Theory
 When we came into
contact with other
people we entered
a Society.
 When we created
State & government
we entered a Social
Contract.

4. Key Concept:
 The Social Contract: An agreement between.
(a) members of the community or
(b) members of the community and the Sovereign
 The Sovereign: The legitimate head of state after the Social Contract: (a) a
person or group of persons, such as a monarch or agovernment,or (b) the
people representing Themselves.
 The State of Nature: A pre-social condition

5. KEY PLAYERS IN SOCIAL
CONTRACT THEORY
 Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679): Argues in favor of absolute
Monarchy.
 He published his book, the Leviathan, in 1651. In this book
he gave a striking exposition of the theory of Social Contract.
 His object was to defend the absolute power of the monarch
and he used the doctrine of the Social Contract to support it.

6. KEY PLAYERS IN SOCIAL
CONTRACT THEORY
 John Locke (1632-1704): Argues in favor of
representational democracy Antiroyalist.
 He is an English Political philosopher, advocates of
limited
Monarchy in England.
 The theory of John Locke is found in his Two Treaties on
Civil Government published in 1690 defended the
ultimate right of the people to depose the monarch from
his authority if he ever deprived them of their “liberties
and properties.”

7. KEY PLAYERS IN SOCIAL
CONTRACT THEORY
 Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778): Argues in favor of
direct democracy.
 He is the great French writer of the 18th century,
 elaborated his theory in his famous work “The Social
Contract” published in 1762.

8. VIEWS ON HUMAN NATURE
 Hobbes: Humans are selfish by nature and must be controlled.
 Locke: Humans are rational by nature, and can by-and-large control
themselves.
 Rousseau: Humans are good and compassionate by nature, but can be
corrupted by civilization.

9. VIEWS ON THE STATE OF
NATURE:
 Hobbes: The State of Nature is a dangerous place, and “life of man “ is “solitary,
poor, nasty, brutish, and short.”
 Locke: Man was neither selfish, nor self- seeking, nor aggressive Men were
equal and free to act they thought fit, but within the bounds of the law of
nature.
 Rousseau: The State of Nature is a wonderful, rich environment for early
humans living solitary peaceful lives.

10. THE SOVEREIGN
 Hobbes: The absolute monarch (king or queen)
 Locke: The people (all adult males) electing a government in democratic
elections.
 Rousseau: The people vote on all matters; the people are the
Sovereign.

11. EFFECTS OF THE SOCIAL
CONTRACT
 Hobbes: People will live in peace but without rights except for the right to
self defense
 Locke: The three natural rights which exist in the State of Nature will be
easier to enforce by the government. Those who have given. express
consent will be bound by the contract; those who have given tacit consent
can opt out and leave.
 Rousseau: Life will be fair for all if we employ the general will and set aside
our personal interests.

12. INFLUENCES
 Hobbes: Inspired Locke, and in directly, Jefferson
 Locke: Inspired Thomas Jefferson in his Declaration of
Independence
 Rousseau: Inspired Jefferson, to some extent, but also
Kant, Marxism, the environmentalist movement,
respect for indigenous peoples, and modern child
pedagogy