The Social Contract

When you think of a contract, you might picture signing an apartment lease or an athlete's large salary details. But what if there was a contract influencing the way citizens and governments interact, and even carrying consequences for breaching that contract? That's kind of what The Social Contract is.

The Social Contract is a theory that gained importance during the Enlightenment period as people began to question the divine right of kings to rule. Enlightenment philosophies like the social contract changed the course of history forever as they emboldened people to rise up against oppressive absolutist rulers and establish more representative governments in England, France, and America.

Social Contract Theory Summary

• Social Contract theory speaks to the implicit “contract” between a government and its people. It is not a tangible or physical contract, but rather one that exists as a social norm.
• It's rooted in the idea that those who rule do not have the intrinsic right to do so - they only rule because they have the consent of the governed.
• The people consent to being ruled because it provides them benefits like safety, stability, and public goods.

• Importantly, this theory also leads to the point that if the government or ruler breaks its contract with the public (for example, by imposing harsh penalties or unfair taxes or imprisonment), then the public has the right to protest or even overthrow the government.

The Social Contract Historical Background

While the Social Contract theory is most often associated with the Enlightenment period due to its growing popularity during this time, its roots go all the way back to ancient Greece and Rome.

Socrates and the social contract

Socrates, the famous Greek philosopher, struggled with ideas around the concept of the social contract during his life in the 4th century BC.

In his work "Crito" he writes about whether he should flee the city to preserve his own life after breaking Athenian law, or whether he should stay and accept the punishment as a proper consequence for his actions. He felt that he had implicitly entered into a contract by benefiting from the city of Athens, which gave him his lodging and livelihood. In many ways, the laws of Athens are what allowed him to flourish as a prolific author. When he broke the laws of the city, he violated this contract.

As such, he had to uphold the law and submit to his punishment, even death. His obligation to obey the law of Athens, which he entered into of his own volition, was greater than his personal health and wellbeing. Thus, he highlights the implicit contract between citizens and the governments that provide them stability.

"The Death of Socrates." Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Plato and the social contract

Plato also writes about the Social Contract in "The Republic" in 375 BC. His view focuses on the social contract more in terms of justice. He argues that humankind has entered into the social contract with each other in order to ensure their own justice. Without the social contract, anyone could harm or commit an injustice against someone else without any consequences.

Because people fear harm and their personal goods being taken from them, they entered into the social contract to create an agreement among all to adhere to norms of justice or risk punishment. Thus, Plato focused more on the social contract being used to ensure justice than on obedience to the state.

A portrait of Plato from 370BC. Source: Wikimedia Commons

The Social Contract Theory

The Social Contract theory gained renewed importance in the 17th century during the Enlightenment period in response to centuries of monarchs who believed God had given them the "divine right" to rule.

Thomas Hobbes and the Theory of Social Contract

Thomas Hobbes wrote about the Social Contract in the Leviathan, which was published in 1651 (towards the end of the English Civil War). He thought that without the threat of some greater power in the form of a ruler or government, humans would do evil things without consequence.

His concept of the social contract emphasized that humanity was inherently bad and would only obey if there was a strong enough government to keep them in check. Because humans are inherently chaotic and brutish, he supported the rule of an absolute monarch, and believed that the social contract called for humanity to subjugate themselves to a ruler in order to have unity.

John Locke and the Theory of Social Contract

John Locke also wrote about the social contract a bit later, in 1689 (following the Glorious Revolution). In his Second Treatise on Government, he focused on natural rights. Natural rights were rights that were intrinsic to all people - they didn’t require a king or judge or government or acknowledge them. Natural rights also applied to people regardless of status. Instead of only rulers and nobles having rights, the theory of natural rights asserted that all of humanity possessed these rights.

Locke felt that humanity was inherently good and that governments should be in place to protect these rights. Instead of being used to coerce people, he felt that the social contract between a government and its people should be used to ensure that people could live prosperous lives that protected their rights to life, liberty, and property.

Rousseau and the Theory of Social Contract

Jean-Jacques Rousseau, a French philosopher, is the first person to use the phrase “the social contract.” In 1762, he wrote "Le Contrat Social" ("The Social Contract"), where he explored the idea of collectivism and popular sovereignty. He wrote about the population’s “general will” - the needs and desires of an entire population, rather than those of the individual.

A portrait of Jean Jacques Roussesau. Source: Wikimedia Commons

He felt that the population would not necessarily know what its general will was or how to achieve it, so it was necessary for a ruler to embody the general will to guide them. He believed people needed a strong government to help them achieve the general will. He favored direct election of one central power over a representative democracy where multiple politicians are elected.

The original printing of Rousseau's Social Contract. Source: Wikimedia Commons

Impact of the Social Contract

The Social Contract theory had an impact on the Enlightenment period in England and France, as both countries grew more and more disgruntled by unpopular rulers. The Social Contract gained influence as thinkers like Thomas Hobbes and John Locke argued in favor of civil war and disobedience to the crown if the ruler violated his agreement with the ruled. However, one thing they may not have predicted is the impact the Social Contract theory would have on the American colonies pushing for independence.

The American Revolution and the Social Contract

Another impact had the theory during the American Revolution. Theories around the Social Contract influenced the Founding Fathers to fight for a society that acknowledged the role of the governed. The American Revolution started in large part because the colonists were not happy with being taxed heavily by England. They also didn’t have any say in government, since no one in parliament represented the colonies. The rallying cry of “no taxation without representation” spoke to the idea that the colonies did not consent to the way they were being governed.

The Social Contract after the American Revolution

The American Revolution is one of the most distinct events that was inspired by the social contract, but it is not the only one throughout American history! During the Civil War, activists also used the theory of the social contract to argue against slavery. If the social contract requires the consent of the governed, then slavery was the exact opposite. They felt that it was unjust for Americans to fight for independence from England, and then turn around and force other people into slavery.

Facts about the Social Contract

• The Social Contract is a theory that speaks to the relationship between people and their government.
• Rather than divine rule of kings and subjects being forced to blindly follow their rulers’ whim, the social contract argued that those who govern should have consent of the governed.
• Locke argued that people have natural rights that must not be violated by their rulers.
• Rousseau argued that people needed to have a superior who would help them achieve the will of the people. This thinking influenced the Founding Fathers to rebel against English rule and push for a government that operated at the will of the people.