2024, Vol. 6, Issue 1, Part C

The relationship between social contract theory and political and moral philosophy is complicated and interconnected. Political theory aims to understand the origins and legitimacy of political authority, whereas politico-moral philosophy investigates the ethical foundations and principles of political institutions. Despite the fact that these two concepts are unique, they frequently cross and impact one another. Social contract theory, popularized by thinkers such as Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, maintains that individuals engage into a social contract freely in order to build a political society. Individuals agree to give up some of their natural rights and freedoms to a ruling authority in exchange for protection, stability, and the preservation of their remaining rights, according to this view. The social compact is seen as the foundation of political legitimacy since it justifies the state's control over its citizens. In contrast, political-moral philosophy is concerned with the moral principles and ideals that guide political systems and institutions. It investigates issues of justice and fairness, as well as the rights and obligations of individuals in a political society. Moral philosophers such as John Rawls and Immanuel Kant produced theories aimed at establishing a just and ethical framework for political government. This paper focuses especially on the social contract theory of Rousseau and its relationship with politico-moral philosophy.