Introduction to Social Contract Theory

Social Contract Theory
Concept
The social contract theory is a most important theory of the state. According to this theory the origin of the state is the result of the agreement by the people voluntary to form a civilized society. This theory implies two things, first it seeks to explain the origin of state, it attempt to define the relationship between the rulers and rule. Thus, it is a theory both about the origin and nature of state.
The social contract theory tells us that in early society people lived in a state of nature but there was no law and authority to safe guard the life and liberty of the people. Hence they suffered a great cause and hardship in the state of nature as a result. The primitive people gave up the state of the nature and made a contract among them in other to escape from those problems and suffering which result the formation of state.
The chief exponents regarding the origin of state are Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau. The views presented by them can be analyzed into two headings:
1.      State of nature
2.      Social contract 

According to Locke

State of Nature
In the state of nature lived or free and happy life. They also enjoyed the rights and freedom. But it was pre-political. Man was not quarrelsome, brutal and selfish. They were sympathetic towards other’s fellow men. The state of nature was “the state of equality and reason” rather than license. There was a state of peace, good well, mutual assistance and preservation.
But there were no definite and determinant laws. There was no competent authority to execute the laws, no independent and impartial arbitrator to settle the disputes.

Social contract     
The inconvenient condition was created only due to the condition of disorganization. So, in order to escape from inconvenient situation people abandoned the state of nature. They enter into an agreement with each other with one another to form a civilized society. There are two contract in Locke’s theory
a)      Social contract
b)      Government contract


                            
According to Hobbes

State of Nature
Might is right was the main ethics in Hobbes’s state of nature. Man’s life was miserable. In the state of nature men were selfish and aggressive. They were always quarreling with one another. There was no peace and security in the state of nature. Every man was enemy to other.
To him, “men’s condition was solitary, nasty, brutish and short.” The weak people have no chance to survive.

Social Contract
Men meet together and inter into an agreement in order to have good and permanent end to superiority among the people. The people make up their mind to form a state through a voluntary contract. And they agreed to surrender their natural right to superior person or groups of person to whom they ought their allegiance. The contract was each man with all and all with each.
Every man said to every order other I authorize and give up of my rights giving myself to this man or group of man on this condition that thou give up the right to him and authorized all his actions in right manner.

According to Rousseau

State of Nature
The state of nature according to Rousseau was very good. There was perfect freedom and equality. Men were noble savages and they experienced idea happiness. Every man was kind and sympathetic towards his fellowmen people. They were away from the notion of vice.
But this state of nature did not continued for long time. The growth of population and size of private property were responsible for inequality and unhappiness among the people of nature of state.

Social contract
The solution of problem was found in a contract and the formation of the state or the civilize society. In other words each person made contract with all and all with each, as a result all the men dependent upon each and each dependent up all.

In brief, each man was under the control of entire community. There was only one contract in Rousseau’s social contract theory. Each man lost his happiness as soon as he made a social contract.
From above discussion, it is clear that the ancient people who were living in the state of nature and they coming to the contract or agreement with a view to form civilized society. On which all the three experts are agreed secondly, this philosopher opinion that the state originated as a result of the contract made by the people to escape from the inconveniences of the state of nature.

Though they varies in other aspect like the condition of the state or the nature or the people and their habits, living styles etc.

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