Which Enlightenment thinker is associated with the idea of the social contract?

The idea of the social contract is closely associated with both Thomas Hobbes and John Locke, both of whom presented distinct yet influential theories regarding the nature of government and human society.

Hobbes, in his work "Leviathan," argues that in a state of nature, individuals act in their own self-interest, which leads to a chaotic and violent existence. To escape this condition, people agree to surrender some of their freedoms to a sovereign authority in exchange for security and order. This agreement forms the basis of his social contract, emphasizing the necessity of a strong, central power to maintain peace and prevent war.

On the other hand, Locke offers a more optimistic view in his social contract theory. He posits that individuals naturally possess rights to life, liberty, and property and that the role of government is to protect these rights. According to Locke, when a government fails to uphold its end of the contract—protecting these rights—the people have the right to revolt and establish a new government. This foundation of government based on consent is crucial to modern democratic thought.

Thus, because both Hobbes and Locke contributed significantly to the development of social contract theory, discussing their ideas is essential to understanding the broader discussions surrounding governance and individual rights during the Enlight