POLITICAL SCIENCE

GOVERNMENT GRADUATE COLLEGE JAMMIA MUHAMMADI

SHARIF

SOCIAL CONRACT THEORY

JOHN LOCKE:
John Locke(29 August 1632 – 28 October 1704) was an English
philosopher who is widely regarded as one of the most influential thinkers of
the Enlightment period. He is best known for his contributions to the first of
political philosophy, particularly his theory of the social contract. He is also
known as the “Father of Liberalism”.
“Two Tracts on Government” is a work of political philosophy written in
1660 by John Locke but remained unpublished until 19961.

THE STATE OF NATURE:

Locke does not paint a dismal picture of the state of nature.
It was not, as Hobbes held, a state of war and misery. On the contrary, it was, as
Locke says, one of “Peace, good-will, mutual assistance and preservation”. Men
enjoyed freedom and equality in it. Each lived according to own linking.

The state of nature is a concept in political philosophy that refers to a

hypothetical condition in which individuals live in a society without any form of
government or social strucutre. In this state, individuals have complete freedom
to do as they please, but also face the constant threat of violence and
exploitation from them. In state of nature, there are no laws or institutions to
protect individuals’ natural rights, such as the right to life, liberty and property.

This leads to a sense of of insecurity and fear, as individuals can never be sure
that their rights will be respected or that they will not be subjected to violence
or exploitation. According to meant social contract theorists, including John
Locke, the state of nature is characterized by a “war of all against all”, as
individuals compete for resources and power. Without any social contract or
common authority to establish rules and resolve disputes, individuals must rely
solely on their own strength and abilities to protect themselves and their
property.

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 POLITICAL SCIENCE
GOVERNMENT GRADUATE COLLEGE JAMMIA MUHAMMADI
SHARIF

Here again, Locke differs from Hobbes, according to whom the law of nature
was one of self-preservation. This shows clearly that Locke’s state of nature was
a pre-political condition of human life and not prcsocial as that of Hobbes.

THE CONTRACT:
Although Locke did not state it explicitly, yet he impliedly said
that there were two contracts. The first contract established the political society
or state, and the other government. According to Locke, each individual, finding
the state of nature intolerable owing to its inconveniences, entered into a
contract. He agreed with all other individuals to give up his natural right of
executing the law of nature and punishing offendcs against it.

But he did not give up all his natural rights, as Hobbs asserted. More ever, the
natural rights was given not to a man or assembly of men; as Hobbes said, but
to the community as a whole. Locke described it in these words, “There and
there only is political society where every one of the members has quitted
the natural powers, resigned it up into the hands of the community in all
cases that exclude him not from appealing for protection to the from it,
vested with the functions of determining what are offences against the law
of nature, and punish violations of that law”.

SOVEREIGNTY:
Locke’s contract is a limited contract: for the individual
surrounded only part of his natural rights. According to Locke, sovereignty lies
with the people rather than with the monarch or rule. He believed that all
individuals are equal and have natural rights, including the right to life, liberty
and property. These rights are nor granted by the government but are inherent in
all human beings.

The power of the state is, therefore limited; the government cannot exercise
unlimited powers, as Hobbes’s sovereign did. As a matter of fact, Locke did not

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 POLITICAL SCIENCE
GOVERNMENT GRADUATE COLLEGE JAMMIA MUHAMMADI
SHARIF

even use the term “sovereignty” in his book. Instead of it, he used the term
“supreme power of the legislature”. Lock’s theory of sovereignty has had a
significant impact on the development of democratic systems of government.

His emphasize on the consent of the governed and the protection of individual
rights has been incorporated into many modern constitutions and legal systems.
His work has also been influential in the development of liberal democratic
thought, emphasizing the importance of individual freedom and limiting the
power of the state.

JEAN-JACQUES ROUSSEAU

Jean-Jacques Rousseau(28 June 1712- 2 July 1778) was an 18th century French
philosopher who is best known for his contributions to political philosophy,
particularly his theory of the social contract. His political philosophy influenced
the progress of the age of Enlightment through Europe, as well as aspects of the
Frecnh Revolution.
The Social Contract, originally published as on the Social Contract; or
Principles of Right, is 1762 French-language book by Jean-Jacques Rousseau.

THE STATE OF NATURE:

According to Rousseau, the state of nature was
characterized by freedom, equality and a sense of peacefulness, as people lived
in a state of natural goodness and did not have any organized form of
government or societal hierarchy to oppress or control them. In his book “The
Social Contract”, Rousseau argued that the state of nature was a condition of
natural freedom and equality in which individuals were able to live according to
their own inclinations without being constrained by the arbitrary rules of
society.

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 POLITICAL SCIENCE
GOVERNMENT GRADUATE COLLEGE JAMMIA MUHAMMADI
SHARIF
However, he also believed that his freedom came at a cast, as individuals
were constantly at risk of harm form one another and lacked the security and

stability by social institutions. Rousseau’s of the state of nature was highly

influential in the development of modern political thought and was used by later
thinkers such as John Locke and Thomas Hobbes to formulate their own
theories of the relationship between individuals and the state.

However, it is important to note that the concept of the state of nature is a

hypothetical construct and does nor represent an actual historical period in
human history.

THE CONTRACT:
In his second and more famous book, “Social Contract”,
Rousseau does not concern himself with the question of the state of nature. He
begins his book with these memorable words: “Man is born free, but is
everywhere in chains”. It means that Mari lived free in the earlier natural state
but is now everywhere bound by the laws and custom of civilized life.

Rousseau argues that the social contract is a voluntary agreement between

individuals to establish a government that will protect their natural rights and
promote the common good. In this contract individuals surrender some of their
freedom to the state in exchange for the protection and security provided by
government. However, Rousseau also asserts that the social contract must be
based on the general will of the people, rather than the interests of any particular
group of individual.

Rousseau’s idea about the social contract and the general will have been highly
influential of modern political thought and have been used by political
philosophers and activists to argue for the important of democratic governance
and individual rights.

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 POLITICAL SCIENCE
GOVERNMENT GRADUATE COLLEGE JAMMIA MUHAMMADI
SHARIF
The Sovereignty(Popular Sovereignty):
Popular sovereignty is a political
concept developed by Jean-Jacques Rousseau, a prominent 18th century
philosopher and political theorist. According to Rousseau, popular sovereignty

means that ultimate political authority resides with the people. The individuals
surrendered completely and unconditionally their natural freedom and powers to
the communtiy as a whole, which become, thereby, the sovereign body. The
body so created is a moral and collective body, because it is under the general
will, that is the will of the whole community. The general will is sovereign.
It is sovereign because, firstly, it is created by the free act of those who entered
into the contract and have surrendered their individual wills and interests to the
supreme direction of the general will and secondly, because it is the custodin of
the interests of all and airnjs at the common and collective good of the
community as a whole.

According to Rousseau, the individuals have surrendered all their rights and
have surrender them not to one person but to the whole community. This
complete and conditional surrender ensure the equality and liberty of all, and
also of the life and property of each individual.
Overall, Rousseau’s concept of
popular sovereignty has had a significant impact on modern democratic theory.
It has influenced the development of democratic institutions around the world
and continues to be an important topic of discussion in political philosophy
today.

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