Social Contract Theory

● The social contract is the unspoken agreement between individuals to give up

certain natural rights in order to enjoy the benefits of society. For instance,
humans give up the natural right to yell as loud as they want whenever they
want in return for the comforts of a respectful, ordered society.
● Basic meaning: The basic meaning of the social contract theory is that
human beings will generally seek to work together for their own benefit rather
than fight at their own detriment. Humans would rather have fewer rights but
be part of a society than have unlimited rights but be subject to the dangers of
living alone in the natural world.

Different philosophers have varying interpretations of the social contract. For

example:
● Thomas Hobbes believed that in a state of nature, humans are driven by
self-interest and that they enter into a social contract to escape the "war of all
against all." They cede their rights to a sovereign authority in exchange for
protection and order.

● John Locke argued that individuals enter into a social contract to protect their
natural rights to life, liberty, and property. Governments are formed to secure
these rights, and if a government fails in this duty, it can be justly overthrown.

● Jean-Jacques Rousseau's perspective emphasized the idea of the "general

will," where individuals come together to create a government that reflects the
common interests and will of the people as a whole.

Social contract theory is a foundational concept in political philosophy and has

influenced the development of democratic and political systems in many societies,
providing a theoretical framework for understanding the relationship between
individuals, society, and government.
Natural Law Theory
● Natural law holds that there are universal moral standards that are inherent in
humankind throughout all time, and these standards should form the basis of
a just society.
● Human beings are not taught natural law per se. Instead, we “discover” it by
consistently making choices for good instead of evil. Some schools of thought
believe that natural law is passed to humans via a divine presence.
● Natural law is a philosophical and ethical theory that states that humans have
inherent values such as moral standards, rationality, and conscience, which
allow them to make rational decisions. It also develops the sense of
right-wrong and good-evil based on individual choices and behavior.

Key concepts of natural law theory typically include:

● Universal Principles: Natural law says that there are rules of right and wrong
that are the same for everyone, no matter where they live or what rules their
society has.
● Rationality: It means using your brain to figure out these important moral
rules. People can think and understand what's right and wrong, and that's how
they follow natural law.
● Objective Morality: Natural law believes that there are moral rules that don't
change based on what people think. These rules are real and don't depend on
what a group of people decides.
● Human Dignity: This means that every person is important because they can
think and make choices about what's right and wrong. Natural law says we
should protect people's rights and treat them with respect because of this.
● Conflict with Positive Law: When human-made laws don't match up with
these important moral rules, some people who follow natural law think it's
okay to not obey those laws because they believe in the higher moral rules.

● Prominent philosophers associated with natural law theory include Thomas

Aquinas, who integrated natural law with Christian theology, and John Locke,
who combined elements of natural law theory with social contract theory.
Different variations and interpretations of natural law theory exist, including
secular and religious perspectives.
 ● Natural law theory has had a significant influence on ethics, jurisprudence,
and political philosophy, contributing to discussions about human rights,
justice, and the moral foundations of law and society.

IV. Democratization of Early Civilization

● Ancient Athens is often cited as one of the early civilizations where
democratization took place. They introduced innovations like the concept of
citizenship, allowing a broader segment of the population to participate in
decision-making through assemblies and juries. While the scope of citizenship
was limited compared to modern democracies, it represented a significant
step towards greater political inclusion.

● Democracy, a noun, system of organization or government where the people

decide policies or elect representatives to do so. For example, in our country,
we are known as a democratic country with a president who is directly elected
by the people and serves as both the head of state and the head of
government.

● The democratization of early civilization refers to the historical process by

which certain ancient societies transitioned from autocratic or oligarchic
systems of governance to more inclusive forms of government that allowed
broader participation and representation for their citizens.

● In the year 507 B.C., the Athenian leader Cleisthenes, also called as the
“Father of Democracy” introduced a system of political reforms that he called
demokratia, or “rule by the people” (from demos, “the people,” and kratos, or
“power” - and that power refers to the ability of ruling). It was the first known
democracy in the world. Democracy is the idea that the citizens of a country
should take an active role in the government of their country and manage it
directly or through elected representatives. In addition, it supports the idea
that the people can replace their government through peaceful transfers of
power rather than violent uprising or revolution. Thus, a key part of democracy
is that the people have a voice.
● The first known democracy in the world was in Athens. Athenian democracy
developed around the fifth century B.C.E. The Greek idea of democracy was
different from present-day democracy because, in Athens, all adult citizens
were required to take an active part in the government. If they did not fulfill
their duty they would be fined and sometimes marked with red paint. The
Athenian definition of “citizens” was also different from modern-day citizens:
only free men were considered citizens in Athens. Women, children, and
slaves were not considered citizens and therefore could not vote.