What is the primary principle of Social Contract Theory?

The primary principle of Social Contract Theory is that people give rights to the government, which must protect those rights. This concept emphasizes the idea that individuals consent to form a government to ensure their safety and maintain social order. In exchange for some of their freedoms, citizens expect the government to respect and safeguard their fundamental rights, such as life, liberty, and property.

This foundational idea is rooted in the works of philosophers like Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, each of whom provided varying interpretations of how this social contract operates. Locke’s version, for example, notably lays out a belief that if the government fails to protect these rights or becomes tyrannical, the people have the right to alter or abolish that government, reinforcing the reciprocal obligations within the social contract.

Other choices presented do not align with the essence of Social Contract Theory. One suggests that government should act independently of the people, which contradicts the notion of mutual consent and accountability. Another implies absolute power of government over citizens, which is contrary to the belief that the government's authority derives from the consent of the governed. Lastly, the assertion that citizens cannot alter their government undermines the premise that the social contract is dynamic and contingent on the protection and respect