The social contract is an agreement among members of a society to respect the rights of others in order for their own rights to be equally respected. This idea was put forth by the following philosophers:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The social contract theory, which posits that individuals consent, either explicitly or tacitly, to surrender some of their freedoms and submit to the authority of the ruler (or to the decision of a majority) in exchange for protection of their remaining rights, is most closely associated with Enlightenment philosophers such as John Locke, Voltaire, Montesquieu, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. These thinkers explored and expanded upon the concept of the social contract, influencing the development of democratic governance and individual rights.

The Social Contract Is an Agreement Among Members of a Society