How are the The Declaration of Independence and Social Contract Theory similar?

The Declaration of Independence is a social contract. The colonists established a new contract and rejected British rule because it violated the previous contract.

http://www.iep.utm.edu/soc-cont/

http://www.csus.edu/indiv/g/gaskilld/ethics/sct.htm

http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/

To understand how the Declaration of Independence and Social Contract Theory are similar, we first need to understand what each of them represents.

The Declaration of Independence is a document adopted by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, in which the 13 American colonies declared their independence from British rule. It is a foundational document of American history and outlines the principles that guided the formation of the United States.

On the other hand, Social Contract Theory is a political philosophy that originated in the works of philosophers like Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. It proposes that individuals enter into a social contract with their government, surrendering some of their rights and freedoms to the government in exchange for protection and the promotion of common goods.

Now, let's explore the similarities between the Declaration of Independence and Social Contract Theory:

1. Consent of the governed: Both the Declaration of Independence and Social Contract Theory emphasize the idea that legitimate political authority derives from the consent of the governed. In other words, the power of the government comes from the people it governs.

2. Natural rights: The Declaration of Independence asserts that individuals have certain unalienable rights, including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Similarly, Social Contract Theory acknowledges the existence of natural rights that individuals possess by virtue of being human.

3. Protection of rights: Both the Declaration of Independence and Social Contract Theory assert that one of the primary functions of government is to protect the rights of individuals. The Declaration of Independence specifically mentions that governments are instituted to secure these rights.

4. Right to alter or abolish: The Declaration of Independence declares that if a government fails to fulfill its purpose of protecting the rights of the people, the people have the right to alter or abolish it. This aligns with the concept in Social Contract Theory that if a government violates the terms of the social contract by infringing on individuals' rights, the contract is breached.

To summarize, the Declaration of Independence and Social Contract Theory share the principles of consent of the governed, recognition of natural rights, the government's role in protecting those rights, and the possibility of altering or abolishing a government that fails to uphold its obligations. By studying these principles and the historical context in which they emerged, we can understand the similarities between the two.