What Are Social Contract Theories? How Do They Differ from Autocratic

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The Answer is Social contract theories are a type of political theory that seeks to explain the origins and legitimacy of government authority. These theories propose that individuals in a society agree to give up some of their freedoms and submit to the authority of a government in exchange for protection of their remaining rights and freedoms. This agreement is often seen as a hypothetical or implicit contract between the governed and the government.

One of the most famous proponents of the social contract theory is philosopher Thomas Hobbes, who argued that without a government to enforce laws and protect citizens, life would be "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short." Other influential thinkers in this tradition include John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau.

In contrast, autocratic theories like the divine right of kings assert that a ruler's authority comes from a higher power, such as a deity, and is not based on any agreement or consent from the governed. According to the divine right of kings, monarchs are chosen and empowered by God, and their authority is absolute and not subject to challenge by the people.

The key difference between social contract theories and autocratic theories like the divine right of kings is the source of political authority. Social contract theories argue that government authority is derived from the consent of the governed, while autocratic theories assert that rulers derive their authority from a higher power, such as a deity. This fundamental difference has significant implications for the legitimacy of government authority and the rights of individuals within a society.

What Are Social Contract Theories? How Do They Differ from Autocratic

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