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Social Contract: Jacques Rousseau And John Locke

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Social Contract Social Contract is the belief that the state exists to serve the will of the people and they are the main political power of the state. Also it is the idea that in the beginning man lived in the state of nature, there was no government or law. Individuals were born into a lawless state of nature, which was happy or unhappy. By this exercise of natural reason formed a society and made a contract amongst themselves. With this agreement it secures life, liberty and property. Individuals grant authority to government, which is valid as long as the government protects natural rights.
Social Contract first started in the writings of Plato, he believed that the high class would be the leaders, the middle class fighters, and the lower class workers. Because of this theory was that the man’s brain consisted of intellect and reason and the man’s heart emotions and spirit. His system fades away because of John Locke’s democracy. The English philosopher Thomas Hobbes enhanced the idea when he wrote “Leviathan”. In his book he writes that in the earliest days there was no such thing as government. However, those who were the strongest could control and use their power over others. His theory was that people could come to an agreement to …show more content…

Rousseau wrote “The Social Contract” also known as “Principles of Political Right”, which explained that the government is based on popular sovereignty. This gives the people power and direction to the state. John Locke believed that the revolution was not right but a requirement if the state misused their power. With the revolution being a success the formed the U.S. Constitution. Locke’s theory is based on long-term and constructive to the individuals. A government is formed because it allows the individuals to command the political life in a way that helps their interest, if it doesn’t interest them they have the duty to change it to their

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