What is an element of the social contract theory of the origin of the state?

Answer 1

is it divine forCe or divine right theory???-

divine right theory-

GOd created the state and that he gave certain people the

divine right to govern this land.

FORCE THEORY-

one or a grouped forced all people within the area to obey his or their rule.

SOCIAL CONTRACT THEORY-

government was born out of necessity people agreed for the need to create a government and gave the state its necessity.

Answer 2

The Social Contract Theory of Origin of the State

The social contract theory of origin of state belongs to liberal school of thought which treats state as a creation of man with a definite purpose to serve certain social needs. This theory holds that men created the state as a result of mutual agreement or contract among themselves. Thus, the state is a product of the will of society and it intend to serve the interests of all its members i.e. society. Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau are the three main thinkers associated with the social contract theory. The theory explains two life-patterns; one before the origin of state (state of nature), the other after the creation of the state.

According to Hobbes, the state of nature is gloomy. It represents total uncertainty, chaos and constant warfare because everyone is selfish by nature. The life of man is solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short. Thus men entered into a contract by which they abandon this insecure state of nature to create a sovereign (state) that enjoys supreme and absolute authority.

According to Locke, the state of nature is not a state of constant warfare. On the contrary, it is a state of peace, goodwill, mutual assistance and preservation. But there is some inconvenience due to a few persons who immoral and self-interested. Secondly, the property of man; life, liberty and estate are not secured under natural law. Thus men agree unanimously to come together as a community and pool their natural powers to uphold one another's rights. This community (civil society) then resolved to establish legislative and other institutions by their own consent.

Rousseau, on the other hand maintains that the man under the state of nature is a 'noble savage' living a life of idyllic happiness and primitive simplicity. They equal, self-sufficient and contended. But the rise of civilization, art and science, division of power and private property came into existence that further leads to rise of inequalities. This necessitates establishment of civil society. The members of this society through a unanimous agreement (social contract) agreed to surrender their individual natural rights to their collective whole i.e. 'General Will'.

Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau are chief exponents of social contract theory. However, they established altogether a different type of state and authority. Where Hobbes created an absolute sovereign, Locke laid the foundations of constitutional state whereas Rousseau stood for popular sovereignty. In nut-shell, according to the social contract theory, state came into existence as a result of a conscious decision on part of the individuals living under state of nature to establish a superior authority i.e., state. Thus, state is a repository of power and will to exercise control on be-half of society.

Critical Evaluation of Social Contract Theory of Origin of State:

Social contract theory is criticised Son the bases of following grounds:

• The idea of social contract as depicted by Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau is both historically improbable and philosophically unnecessary to explain allegiance.

• There is no historical validity of men living under a state of nature.

• The idea of contract is a modern one. The primitive man was not aware of it.

• The so called contract lacks any sanctions behind it to make it fully applicable.

• Every generation has a different level of consciousness and expectations. An old social contract should not be imposed on them.

Answer 3

According to social contract theory, especially as understood by Rousseau, in earliest history man lived in a "state of nature" where there was no government. As a result, each person was only as secure as his own power and mental awareness could make him. By agreeing with one another to make a state by contract, men within a given area joined together, each surrendering personal freedom as necessary to promote the safety and well being of all. By this contract the members created a government. The social contract created would assign rights and responsibilities to both the citizenry and the government.

Our current understanding of anthropology and human history indicate that this view to the origin of the social contract is inaccurate. People never lived in a "state of nature", but in small bands. As those bands grew in number, hierarchies developed and the leaders of the hierarchy would have an implied contract to protect the rest of the tribe or be deposed. The idea that citizens would have any true rights did not happen until the Enlightenment period.

Answer 4

the people grant power to a government for the well-being of all

Answer 5

population in a givin place gave up power