Social Contracts Mrs. Oloya

Social Contract An actual or hypothetical agreement between the people and their rulers Defines the responsibilities and roles of each

Gov’t rests on the agreement of the governed 3 Social Theories Hobbes w/out society, mankind would take for himself (solitary and brutish) Gov’t has absolute power Rousseau Gov’t rests on the agreement of the governed Locke Law of nature protects life and property Hobbes and Locke If gov’t violates contract = rebellion Locke and Rousseau Moral and civic obligation to uphold contract Rousseau and Hobbes Mankind born w/out sense of right and wrong All Three Individuals agree to give up freedoms in exchange for gov’t protecting their lives and property