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Title: Social Contract Theory
Introduction
Human beings are social animals; they live in societies because they cannot live in isolation due to human needs, which are natural and inbuilt. Social Contract Theory was originated during the 18th century, which was the Age of Enlightenment. According to the Social Contract Theory, in societies, people live together in groups within a framework of agreements that create political and moral rules of behavior. The main idea, which Social Contract Theory states is that rules and agreements allow people to live in peace, and govern our behaviors. Without these agreements, it would not be possible to live in peace. In societies where there are no agreements and rules, people follow their own rules and act accordingly.
People in the early ages lived a life according to the nature of the state, and there were no appropriate rules and regulations to regulate society. People were oppressed by those who had authority and faced difficulties. To overcome these oppressions and hardships by the upper class, people started to protect their properties and lives. People formed unions and pacts to secure their lives and properties. The first pact was the pactum unions, which was to ensure the security of life and property. This created harmony and respect among people, and they started to live in peace. The second pactum was to encourage people to unite and surrender their freedom to the authorities and rulers since this authority guarantees the security of their life and property ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"c3IYRGMc","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Laskar)","plainCitation":"(Laskar)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":476,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/F0XOCTdk/items/Z7TLGSN3"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/F0XOCTdk/items/Z7TLGSN3"],"itemData":{"id":476,"type":"article-journal","title":"Summary of Social Contract Theory by Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau","container-title":"SSRN Electronic Journal","source":"ResearchGate","abstract":"This paper provides a small summary of Social Contract Theory by Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau. It discusses what is the social contract theory and the reason. Then the paper points out the State of Nature according to Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau. It also put forth the differences of opinion of these jurists of the State of Nature with regard to social contract and lastly the critical apprehension of the theory of social contract given by Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau.","DOI":"10.2139/ssrn.2410525","journalAbbreviation":"SSRN Electronic Journal","author":[{"family":"Laskar","given":"Manzoor"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2013",4,4]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Laskar).
Evaluation of what is ethically right or wrong and a condition that is considered good and bad is the part of ethical judgments. However, there can be human biases which could be the reason for the change in decision-making. Ethical judgments encourage rational decisions and do not let human feelings and emotions make an impact on our decisions ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"l01GWakc","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(MacKinnon and Fiala)","plainCitation":"(MacKinnon and Fiala)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":"180WYYN2/2212ZBnW","uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/smYQhi21/items/PC6DZZTY"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/smYQhi21/items/PC6DZZTY"],"itemData":{"id":250,"type":"book","title":"Ethics: Theory and Contemporary Issues, Concise Edition","publisher":"Cengage Learning","number-of-pages":"385","source":"Google Books","abstract":"ETHICS: THEORY AND CONTEMPORARY ISSUES, 8E CONCISE presents the major areas of ethical theory through an engaging collection of contemporary moral debates. First, readers are introduced to such ethical subjects as religion and global ethics, utilitarianism and deontology, natural law ethics, virtue ethics, non-Western paradigms, feminist ethics, and care ethics. Then, these and other ethical concepts provide the framework for in-depth discussions on moral dilemmas such as euthanasia, sexual morality, economic justice, animal ethics, war, violence, and globalization. Plus, this edition brings the debate up-to-date with detailed discussions of timely moral topics such as same-sex marriage, structural racism, factory farming, pacifism, and global distributive justice.Important Notice: Media content referenced within the product description or the product text may not be available in the ebook version.","ISBN":"978-1-305-54482-6","note":"Google-Books-ID: YYbCBAAAQBAJ","title-short":"Ethics","language":"en","author":[{"family":"MacKinnon","given":"Barbara"},{"family":"Fiala","given":"Andrew"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2015",1,1]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (MacKinnon and Fiala). Human biases can be reduced by rational and objective thinking regarding a subject and an expected outcome.
Based on rational thinking, Social Contract Theory is valid and true, because it subjects people living in societies to live according to the law and order to avoid conflicts and oppression. Human beings look for a safe environment and a secure life without being disturbed by other forces in a state. Sometimes, living under someone else's rule can become difficult because human desires can make people act differently, and they go beyond the limitations to fulfill their needs.
The Social Contract Theory is true because it allows people to live according to law and rules, and these should be followed. To maintain peace, and to resolve the conflicts in the societies by giving the authority of decision making to one ruler or a representative. The authority will ensure the people living in society, a secured life, and a right to have a property on their own. When people decide to live united, and with harmony then, they allow their representative to rule over them, and the authority given to one individual is the absolute theory. However, when people allow an individual then, it means that they stop living in a state of nature, and they start living a life according to the Social Contract Theory.
Social Contract Theory supports the rule of one individual to maintain peace, and provide security to people and their properties, however, this theory is rejected by the Natural Law Theory.
The Natural Law Theory suggests that morality and law are naturally inter-connected ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"4jMMBTCH","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Dimock)","plainCitation":"(Dimock)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":"180WYYN2/FPwlcQcM","uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/smYQhi21/items/CWJ4PRI5"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/smYQhi21/items/CWJ4PRI5"],"itemData":{"id":253,"type":"article-journal","title":"The Natural Law Theory of St. Thomas Aquinas","source":"ResearchGate","abstract":"In this essay I present the core of St. Thomas Aquinas’s theory of law. The aim is to introduce students both to the details of Aquinas’s particular theory of law, as well as to the features of his view that define what has come to be known as “the natural law” conception of law more generally. Though the essay is for the most part non-critical, some of the more important implications of the natural law position are raised for further thought and to pave the way for the study of alternative views which have been developed in the subsequent history of the philosophy of law.One brief note about the structure of the essay will complete my introductory remarks: The essay tries to present as much of Aquinas’s theory in his own words as possible. Material taken directly from Aquinas appears in bold type throughout, with the origin of the quotation given in parentheses following the text. Unless otherwise noted, the material is taken from Aquinas’s Summa Theologica; the translation from Latin is that of the Fathers of the English Dominican Province.","author":[{"family":"Dimock","given":"Susan"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["1999",1,1]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Dimock). Before getting into the discussion of Natural Law Theory, it is important to understand the law and Natural Law. Law is the set of rules, and actions commanded by the authorities and those who have the legal power. The theorists of Natural Law suggest that the laws are defined by mortality, and this cannot be defined by any individual, king or any government. So, individuals are guided by the state of nature, which we have, and figure out the laws to follow and act according to the laws. During the life stages of an individual, it is considered that, whatever happens, it is because of the natural law. Based on this consideration, individuals seek happiness and a satisfying life. While, unnatural and immoral actions are those actions, which stop other individuals from living happily. However, the laws are meant to be made for a purpose, if these laws stop, and prevent an individual from living a peaceful and happy lie then they are considered immoral.
Natural Law Theory and the Social Contract theory when compared, there are enormous changes that exist between, these two theories. Social Contract Theory, encourages the rule of an individual over the other people who allowed him/her to rule over them by giving the authority. This theory also suggests that the authority given by the people to one individual ruler will ensure the security of life, and property. When people feel threatened by other individuals and then there is the chance of a conflict between them, so to avoid such conflicts there has to be a ruler. However, the Natural Law Theory suggests that the laws and the authority is defined by morality not by the rule of one person and government.
Human beings desire to live independently because they cannot be bound to certain laws, agreements, regulations, and formalities. If an individual is commanded to follow the rules by a single person and he/she is not willing to follow the rules, then it becomes difficult to understand the situation. The Natural Law Theory suggests that morality is the source that decides the authority, not by the common people, rulers, and kings. While, the Social Contract Theory, allows a supreme authority by an individual, and kings to rule over the people by surrendering their own lives, and their properties. Social Contract Theory limits the rules of the public to only one authority and that can be a king or the government, which assures for their security of lives, and resources, and properties.
The Social Contract Theory was made to control the oppressions, and threats to the security of lives, and property. Therefore, people agreed to allow one supreme authority to provide security to their lives and properties. However, at that time, people were not treated well; there was a class system and people were oppressed. People become barbarians in their lust for power, and there was no security of people and resources. Therefore, the Social Contract theory helps the oppressed people to enjoy the security provided by the individual authority, and they can live in peace.
Natural Theory encourages the freedom of individuals in societies and allows them to live according to their desires. The freedom given to people may cause conflicts among people, groups, and the natural patterns of society. Hence, these natural patterns of the society are disturbed because of the unrest in society and the war for power.
Works Cited
ADDIN ZOTERO_BIBL {"uncited":[],"omitted":[],"custom":[]} CSL_BIBLIOGRAPHY Dimock, Susan. The Natural Law Theory of St. Thomas Aquinas. Jan. 1999.
Laskar, Manzoor. "Summary of Social Contract Theory by Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau." SSRN Electronic Journal, Apr. 2013. ResearchGate, doi:10.2139/ssrn.2410525.
MacKinnon, Barbara, and Andrew Fiala. Ethics: Theory and Contemporary Issues, Concise Edition. Cengage Learning, 2015.
