Social Contracts

A social contract is an implicit agreement among members of a society about how they will interact and cooperate to ensure mutual benefit and security. It suggests that individuals surrender some freedoms to a governing body or authority in exchange for protection of their remaining rights and the maintenance of social order. This concept, explored by philosophers like Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau, emphasizes that legitimacy of political authority arises from the consent of the governed, forming the basis for laws and societal norms. Essentially, it's about balancing individual rights with the common good.