The Social Contract Theorists

Social contract theorists are philosophers who believe that society's rules and governments are based on an implicit agreement among individuals. They argue that people consent, either explicitly or tacitly, to surrender some freedoms to a governing authority in exchange for order, security, and protection of rights. Key thinkers like Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau each had different ideas about the nature of this agreement and the balance of power. Their theories help explain the origin of political authority and justify the legitimacy of governments based on the consent of the governed.