Library Guides: The social contract: Overview

Don't forget to cite and reference your sources. For help see the Junior School or Senior School referencing guides, and / or CiteMaker.

Resource Key

When accessing content use the numbers below to guide you:

LEVEL

Brief, basic information laid out in an easy-to-read format. May use informal language. (Includes most news articles)

LEVEL

Provides additional background information and further reading. Introduces some subject-specific language.

LEVEL

Lengthy, detailed information. Frequently uses technical/subject-specific language. (Includes most analytical articles)

General Capabilities

Enduring Understandings

Philosophers and other thinkers have grappled with the idea of society and how we are to live together.

The social contract is implied in many of our democracies today and is underpinned by philosophical thinking.

Essential Questions

What rules and assumptions underpin a well-functioning society?

Quick Links

Jump to: Keywords | Introduction | Videos | Curriculum alignment

The social contract | Keywords

Keywords and phrases

Click on the terms to access a simple definition from the Oxford Dictionary online. The definitions for words and phrases marked with a hash # come from alternative sources.

Contract, Determinism, Enlightenment, Free will, Freedom, Rights of man, Society.

The social contract | Introduction

Social contract (Britannica High, n.d.)
"Social contract, in political philosophy, an actual or hypothetical compact, or agreement, between the ruled and their rulers, defining the rights and duties of each." ("Social contract", n.d.)
more...less...
Reference / citation: "Social contract" (n.d.) or ("Social contract", n.d.)
Reference list / Bibliography: Social contract. (n.d.). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved from https://bt-libproxy.mentonegirls.vic.edu.au/levels/high/article/social-contract/68440
What Is Ethical Egoism? Should I Always Pursue Only My Own Self-Interest? (Thought.Co)
"Ethical egoism is the view that each of us ought to pursue our own self-interest, and no-one has any obligation to promote anyone else’s interests." (Westacott, 2019)
more...less...
Reference / citation: Westacott, (2019) or (Westacott, 2019) Reference list / Bibliography: Westacott, E. (2019, January 27). What Is Communism? Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-ethical-egoism-3573630
The Basic Principles of Utilitarianism The axioms of the moral theory that seeks to maximize happiness (Thought.Co)
"Utilitarianism is one of the most important and influential moral theories of modern times... Utilitarianism gets its name from the term "utility," which in this context does not mean "useful" but, rather, means pleasure or happiness." (Westacott, 2019)
more...less...
Reference / citation: Westacott, (2019) or (Westacott, 2019) Reference list / Bibliography: Westacott, E. (2019, May 25). The Basic Principles of Utilitarianism The axioms of the moral theory that seeks to maximize happiness. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/basic-principles-of-utilitarianism-3862064

Social Contract Theory (Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy)
"Social contract theory,... is the view that persons' moral and/or political obligations are dependent upon a contract or agreement among them to form the society in which they live." (Friend, n.d.)
more...less...
Reference / citation: Friend (n.d.) or (Friend, n.d.)
Reference list / Bibliography: Friend, C., (n.d.). Social Contract Theory, The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, retrieved from https://www.iep.utm.edu/soc-cont/
The Social Contract [and Its Impact on American Politics] (Thought.Co)
"The term "social contract" refers to the idea that the state exists only to serve the will of the people, who are the source of all political power enjoyed by the state. The people can choose to give or withhold this power. The idea of the social contract is one of the foundations of the American political system." (Kelly, 2018)
more...less...
Reference / citation: Kelly, (2018) or (Kelly, 2018)
Reference list / Bibliography: Kelly, M. (2018, August 9). The Social Contract. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/social-contract-in-politics-105424

The Social Contract (Thompson, 2010, pp. 221-224)
"For Hobbes and Locke, the moral justification for the actions of the state is utilitarian, the moral theory that seeks ‘the greatest happiness for the greatest number’ as formulated by both Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill (see his essays On Liberty and On Representative Government ),.... Government is established by the people and for the benefit of the people." (Thompson, 2010, pp. 221-224)
more...less...
Reference / citation: Thompson (2010, pp. 221-79) or (Thompson, 2010, pp. 221-224)
Reference list / Bibliography: Thompson, M., (2010). The Social Contract in Understand Philosophy (pp. 221-224). Retrieved from https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=350782&site=ehost-live&scope=site&authtype=ip,sso&custid=mggsvic&ebv=EB&ppid=pp_221

The social contract | Videos

To view this video on campus remember to first login to your school Google account using your mConnect username and password. Click here for more help on using YouTube on campus.

A brief description of the "Social Contract" theory and how it has impacted the outcome of the Enlightenment. this YouTube video includes a Quizlet on vocabulary. (The Oxford Observer, 2015)

Source

When using this video don't forget to cite and reference your sources. For more information and help see the Kerferd Library referencing guide and / or CiteMaker.
In text reference / citation: The Oxford Observer (2015) or (The Oxford Observer, 2015)
Bibliography / Reference list: The Oxford Observer, (2015). The Enlightenment: Social Contract, [eVideo]. The Oxford Observer. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/Av6R8QfgZ48

The Social Contract | Curriculum Alignment and Metadata

This Mentone Girls' Grammar School LibGuide supports the following Victorian curriculum outcomes. Click on the links to explore more.

Critical and Creative Thinking / Levels 9 and 10 / Questions and Possibilities [VCCCTQ043]
Investigate the characteristics of effective questions in different contexts to examine information and test possibilities
more...less...
Elaborations:
* identifying the distinctive characteristics of questions as part of an inquiry that draws on different learning areas
* discussing how a question might change to suit different contexts, for example how questions about human wellbeing might change depending on scale of investigation, and evaluating proposed questions
* examining a list of questions and identifying which are the most effective and why
Critical and Creative Thinking / Levels 9 and 10 / Questions and Possibilities [VCCCTQ045]
Challenge previously held assumptions and create new links, proposals and artefacts by investigating ideas that provoke shifts in perspectives and cross boundaries to generate ideas and solutions.
Critical and Creative Thinking / Levels 9 and 10 / Reasoning [VCCCTR047]
Examine how to identify and analyse suppressed premises and assumptions
more...less...
Elaborations
* analysing inferences and the assumptions they are based on and discussing if these are justified
* discussing a claim that an assumption is ‘self-evident’ and does not need to be separately argued for, for example that projected rapid population growth will decrease food security
* supplying a suppressed premise in order to fill a gap in an argument and justifying the selection
Critical and Creative Thinking / Levels 9 and 10 / Meta-Cognition [VCCCTM053]
Investigate the kind of criteria that can be used to rationally evaluate the quality of ideas and proposals, including the qualities of viability and workability
more...less...
Elaborations:
*developing and applying criteria to assess a range of examples of proposals and justifying whether refinements are necessary
* developing and applying ethical considerations that should be taken into account for a research proposal or a performance
* assessing the workability of a response to an issue by examining practical implementation considerations
* assessing the viability of a solution by considering the risks associated with it