Enlightenment thinkers like Jean Jacques Rousseau, John Locke, and Thomas Hobbes were instrumental in developing the idea of the social contract, each contributing unique perspectives to this foundational concept in political theory.
Jean Jacques Rousseau expanded the idea of the social contract by arguing that the existing social contract was not voluntary, contending that common people were misled into giving up their freedom. This was outlined in his work The Social Contract.
John Locke, another Enlightenment thinker, believed in natural rights, including Life, Liberty, and Property, and influenced political documents like the Declaration of Independence. Locke, along with Thomas Hobbes, emphasized the need for a social contract for people to live in civil society.
This concept of a social contract was central to Enlightenment philosophers, shaping political theory and influencing governing systems worldwide.
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