John Locke:
In his book Two Treatises on Government, Locke refuted the divine right of Monarchy, and established a theory which states that all men are men are born free and equal. Each person should have equal access to the natural rights of life, liberty, and property. No law should limit those three principles and it is a government’s responsibility to uphold the principles. He views once of the government’s main responsibilities is to punish those who break the three principles. He came up with the idea that people, not god, gave the ruler the right to rule, and because of this if ever the government was not doing its job correctly then it is the people’s right to overthrow and change the government.
Charles de Montesquieu:
Expanding on the ideas of Locke in his book The Spirit of Laws, Montesquieu added the judiciary branch to Locke’s Executive and Legislative branch. He admired the English system of laws, and wrote on the separation of powers. Montesquieu observed three different forms of government: “republican, monarchial, and despotic.” He further divided republican government into democracy and aristocracy. Of which he dismissed a pure democracy as impossible because they easily become corrupted back into despotism or monarchy, when the feeling of equality and fairness evaporate. In order to ensure that does not happen a healthy judiciary branch is important to keep the other two branches of government in check.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau:
In his book The Social Contract, Rousseau comes up with his theories on government. He believed in what he called “a state of nature” in which people are purely instinctual and harmful, so he says people made a contract with the government to give up some of their individual freedoms in exchange for protection. Since governments get their power from the power it is their duty to do what is best for the general will (that means the most people). To ensure this happens Rousseau calls for a direct democracy where all citizens directly vote on news laws instead of a representative government where elected officials vote.
Using what you’ve read explain what it means that governments have a “social contract.”
Well, did you actually read what is posted here? Do you comprehend what is written here? If so, then what do you think the terms "social contract" means? How can we help you understand it?
You talk in person with other people??? Reed?
No, we do not give our telephone numbers to students on Jiskha. We can talk here. What is it you don't understand about these essays or the question you are to answer?
I don't understand social contract?
i dont understand
The concept of a "social contract" refers to an agreement or compact between the people and their government, which outlines the rights and responsibilities of both parties. It is a theoretical understanding of the relationship between citizens and the governing authority.
According to John Locke, the social contract establishes that individuals willingly give up some of their freedom and autonomy to form a government. This government, in turn, is responsible for protecting the natural rights of its citizens, notably life, liberty, and property. If the government fails to fulfill its obligations or violates these rights, individuals have the right to rebel and replace the government.
Charles de Montesquieu extended the idea of the social contract by emphasizing the need for a separation of powers within the government. He argued that a healthy government should be divided into three branches: the executive, legislative, and judicial. This division serves as a system of checks and balances, where each branch has distinct powers to prevent abuses of power. The social contract, in this context, also includes the obligation of the government to uphold this separation and protect citizens' rights.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau introduced a different perspective on the social contract. He believed that people are inherently good in their natural state but become corrupted by society. Rousseau proposed that individuals voluntarily surrender their personal freedoms to establish a government guided by the "general will" – the collective interests of the people. Unlike Locke and Montesquieu, Rousseau favored direct democracy, where citizens actively participate in political decision-making rather than relying on representatives.
In all these interpretations, the social contract implies a mutual agreement between the government and its citizens. It establishes the rights and duties of both parties and defines the boundaries of political authority. Governments derive their legitimacy and power from the consent of the governed, and their primary role is to protect the rights and well-being of the people.