Social Contract

• Social contract theory derives authority from the

consent of the people, they are the
instrumentality of covenant or agreement. People
were regarded as the source of political authority
• The chief exponents of this theory were Thomas
Hobbes(1588-), John Locke(1632-) and
Rousseau(1712-). But this individual writers hold
different views when it comes explanation. But all
of them discussed the common tenets like human
nature, state of nature, covenant and
consequence
Social Contract Theory( Origin of State)
• Social contract theory is not only most ancient
but also most famous of all theories regarding the
origin of the state. It dominated in political
thought for centuries.
• This theory states that the origin of state is the
result of an agreement entered into by man who
originally had no governmental organization
• State is an outcome of deliberate human effort
• The idea of mutual agreement existed in ancient
Greek, Jewish or Roman traditions
• State is the result of an agreement into by man
who originally had no governmental organisation.
• This theory divided the history of the world into
two: world prior to contract and after the
contract
• All the three philosophers discussed about the
contract in detailed way but they regarded the
condition existed in state of nature and factors
led to the contract differently
 Hobbes
• Human nature
• Self centered, solitary, seeking own pleasure and desire-no
order, compete for wealth, knowledge and honour- passions
are active urge to excel others– brute, hatred, envy, subdue
others- one may physically strong but others are quick and
clever- possessed reason- it is passive
• State of nature: here the man lived prior to the formation of
state.-war of everyman against every man-Gloomy picture -life
is in danger- life was solitary, poor nasty, brutish and short-
Factors led to the contract: constant fear and danger of
violent death- it became unbearable-desire for security,
• Reason: provided the foresight-became a regulative power
• Security became the prime motive-reason played important
role
• Because of uncertainty and insecurity or fear
• Reason suggested
 John Locke
• Human nature
• divine spark(shine of future), humane, sympathetic
(sympathy) , peaceful , friendly and moral(standard of
behaviour)
• State of nature-
• Man live in the state of nature before the political and
civil society was formed –the goodwill, freedom and
equality, sociability, mutual assistance and preservation
• law of nature-: Here the law of nature given reason and
peace. There existed natural rights like life, liberty and
property
• Some Inconvenience
• Peace was not secure, there was no and final and impartial
arbiter to protect the enjoyment of natural rights-state of
nature was constantly upset-full of fears-it may fall into
corruption
• Locke: Social Pact: In a state of nature law was
not clearly defined –there was no common
authority enforce natural rights-no judge to settle
disputes-this ill condition may lead to self interest
• To get out of this ill condition men in the state of
nature agreed to establish a civil society for the
mutual preservation of their lives, liberties and
estates- it is a contract of each with all-they unite
into community for comfort and peaceful life
 Rousseau
• Natural man
• Natural man had two original instinct, self preservation and self love
gregarious and sympathy- reason and conscience
• State of nature: Noble savage, sinless,. Men in a state of nature do not know
good and evil, but their independence, along with “the peacefulness of their
passions, and their ignorance of vice”, keep them from doing ill. An idealized
concept of uncivilized man, who symbolizes the innate goodness of one not
exposed to the corrupting influences of civilization. basic tenet of man’s
innate goodness;
• But it was not last long self love and pride emerged in state of nature; Mine
and thine emerged. Natural equality disappeared “from the moment one man
began to stand in need of another”
• Contract: it is a pact of the future – form association for defend and protect-
uniting himself with all, remain free as before- the pact will help to attain his
natural form-it is social as well as political- it is driven by supreme direction of
general will- sole authority with general will- reflection of popular sovereignty
• General Will – collective and real will of society- common good , uniting
agency- moral authority of society- implies both liberty and sovereignty- very
life of community
• instead of a stupid and unimaginative animal, made him an intelligent being
and a man”
Human nature
Self centered, solitary, seeking
own pleasure and desire-no
order, compete for wealth,
knowledge and honour-
passions are active urge to excel
others– brute, hatred, envy,
subdue others- one may
physically strong but others are
quick and clever- possessed
reason- it is passive
State of nature:t here the man
lived prior to the formation of
state.-war of everyman against
every man-Gloomy picture -life
is in danger- life was solitary,
poor nasty, brutish and short-
constant fear and danger of
violent death- it became
unbearable-desire for security,
Reason: provided the foresight-
became a regulative power
Human nature Natural man
divine spark, humane, Natural man had two original
sympathetic , peaceful , instinct, self preservation and
friendly and moral self love second, gregarious
State of nature- and sympathy- reason and
Man live in the state of conscience
nature before the political State of nature:
and civil society was formed Noble salvage,sinless, but it
–the goodwill, freedom and was not last long self love
equality, sociability, mutual and pride emerged
assistance and preservation state of nature
law of nature-: Here the law Social contract
of nature given reason and General Will
peace. There existed natural Criticisms
rights like life, liberty and
property
Some Inconvenience
Peace was not secure, there
was no and final and
impartial arbiter to protect
the enjoyment of natural
rights-state of nature was
constantly upset-full of fears-
it may fall into corruption
 Contract – Hobbes-Leviathan
• Hobbes talks about law of nature instrumented by reason
• Individuals agreed along with their fellow individuals – give up
their natural rights and surrender that to an authority –this
authority is became sovereign
• Locke: Social Pact: Ina a state of nature law was not clearly defined
–there was no common authority enforce natural rights-no judge
to settle disputes-this ill condition may lead to self interest
• To get out of this ill condition men in the state of nature agreed to
establish a civil society for the mutual preservation of their lives,
liberties and estates- it is a contract of each with all-they unite into
community for comfort and peaceful life
• Rousseau: it is a pact of the future – form association for defend
and protect- uniting himself with all, remain free as before- the
pact will help to attain his natural form-it is social as well as
political- it is driven by supreme direction of general will- sole
authority with general will- reflection of popular sovereignty
•
Sovereign –Hobbes
Not to party the agreement –powers allotted cannot withdrawn- no right
to protest or question- authority of the sovereign was unlimited, exercised
arbitrarily- irrevocable- he is the source of law-
• Hobbes talks about one contract-hardly made any difference between
state and government-emergence of civil society
• Criticisms_ Human nature discussed by hobbes is unsound, it is not pure
historical explanation- legally too it is unacceptable- he failed to
distinguish state and government– natural law concept is confusing- the
liberty of individuals are curtailed
• Value of this theory: it is logical and clarity in explanation, hobbes talks
about legal sovereign
• Locke: Government is the product of the contract – the main function is
execute the trust and preservation of property- Democratic government
• Rousseau: General Will – collective and real will of society- common good ,
uniting agency- moral authority of society- implies both liberty and
sovereignty- very life of community
• Criticisms: very difficult to locate- it is not a will of majority- difficult define
common interest- not distinguish state and society
 Criticisms
It is criticized in many grounds: not historical, fiction, a rattle for amusement or
worthless
Historically untenable: nothing in the whole range of history shows the existence of a
stage wherein a group of people lived without social organisation
There was no example of primitive men meeting together
Contract assume they make contract for their personal safety and security of personal
property- early law was more communal than individual
Valid contract must have some sanction behind it
No legal foundation

The concept nature of state is unsound, state is not artificial or emerged all of sudden
Liberty could not exist in state of nature
This contract reduces the relationship between state and the individual
There is no unanimity among the main exponents
If the individual may create a state with the help of contract they can also end it
Value: in spite of all its criticisms and philosophical drawbacks there are certain
positive – derive power from consent- sovereign has no right to act arbitrary- it
influence the actual political thought development
The concept sovereignty got the different dimensions- referendum, popular
sovereignty o etc..