Social Contract Theories of Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau

 

The political philosophies of the English philosophers Thomas Hobbes (1588–1679), John Locke (1632–1704) and the French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712–78) are often referred to as Social Contract theories.  The above video looks at the Social Contract theories of Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau. Social Contract theories look at what the relationship between people and their government should be.

The following two videos from Youtube published by Philosophy Vibe give more details on the social contract theories of the three philosophers.

Some Definitions

State of nature, in political theory, the real or hypothetical condition of human beings before or without political association. 

Sovereignty, in political theory, the ultimate overseer, or authority, in the decision-making process of the state and in the maintenance of order.

Social contract, in political philosophy, an actual or hypothetical compact, or agreement, between the ruled or between the ruled and their rulers, defining the rights and duties of each. In primeval times, according to the theory, individuals were born into an anarchic state of nature, which was happy or unhappy according to the particular version of the theory. They then, by exercising natural reason, formed a society (and a government) by means of a social contract.

Reference: britannica.com (2/11/2021)