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Single Idea 7233
[filed under theme 24. Political Theory / B. Nature of a State / 2. State Legitimacy / c. Social contract
]
Full Idea
The social order is a sacred right which serves as a basis for all other rights; and as it is not a natural right, it must be one founded on covenants.
Clarification
'Covenants' are contracts
Gist of Idea
The social order is a sacred right, but based on covenants, not nature
Source
Jean-Jacques Rousseau (The Social Contract (tr Cress) [1762], I.1)
Book Ref
Rousseau,Jean-Jacques: 'The Social Contract', ed/tr. Cranston,Maurice [Penguin 1972], p.50
A Reaction
I think Rousseau is offering a contradiction here, when he suggests we have a 'sacred' right, which is nevertheless only based on 'covenants'. You can't have it both ways. This is an abuse of the word 'sacred'.
The
30 ideas
with the same theme
[power derived from agreement among citizens]:
23215
|
Even the poorest have a life to lead, and so should consent to who governs them
[-]
|
10
|
After a taste of mutual harm, men make a legal contract to avoid it
[Plato]
|
14515
|
A law is not just if it is not useful in mutual associations
[Epicurus]
|
5654
|
The Second Treatise explores the consequences of the contractual view of the state
[Locke, by Scruton]
|
19888
|
A society only begins if there is consent of all the individuals to join it
[Locke]
|
6702
|
If anyone enjoys the benefits of government (even using a road) they give tacit assent to its laws
[Locke]
|
19909
|
A politic society is created from a state of nature by a unanimous agreement
[Locke]
|
21100
|
The idea that society rests on consent or promises undermines obedience
[Hume]
|
20495
|
We no more give 'tacit assent' to the state than a passenger carried on board a ship while asleep
[Hume]
|
21101
|
The people would be amazed to learn that government arises from their consent
[Hume]
|
7233
|
The social order is a sacred right, but based on covenants, not nature
[Rousseau]
|
19842
|
The government is instituted by a law, not by a contract
[Rousseau]
|
20569
|
Kant made the social contract international and cosmopolitan
[Kant, by Oksala]
|
21063
|
Personal contracts are for some end, but a civil state contract involves a duty to share
[Kant]
|
21068
|
There must be a unanimous contract that citizens accept majority decisions
[Kant]
|
21069
|
A contract is theoretical, but it can guide rulers to make laws which the whole people will accept
[Kant]
|
22778
|
Individuals can't leave the state, because they are natural citizens, and humans require a state
[Hegel]
|
3909
|
Society isn’t founded on a contract, since contracts presuppose a society
[Hegel, by Scruton]
|
22809
|
The social contract sees society as constituted by and for individuals
[Taylor,C]
|
21119
|
Power is only legitimate if it is reasonable for free equal citizens to endorse the constitution
[Rawls]
|
21019
|
Social contracts assume equal powers among the participants
[Nussbaum]
|
18635
|
Social contract theories are usually rejected because there never was such a contract
[Kymlicka]
|
21035
|
Just visiting (and using roads) is hardly ratifying the Constitution
[Sandel]
|
8989
|
The benefits of social freedom outweigh the loneliness, doubt and alienation it brings
[Scruton]
|
20490
|
For utilitarians, consent to the state is irrelevant, if it produces more happiness
[Wolff,J]
|
20493
|
Social contract theory has the attracton of including everyone, and being voluntary
[Wolff,J]
|
20494
|
Maybe voting in elections is a grant of legitimacy to the winners
[Wolff,J]
|
20984
|
A social contract limits the pursuit of justice to members of a single society
[Sen]
|
20738
|
Social contracts and markets have made society seem disconnected and artificial
[Aho]
|
20537
|
Hypothetical contracts have no binding force
[Swift]
|