Asked by Arnel Salcedo on Jun 10, 2024

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According to Rousseau,what is the relationship between the social contract and the need for government?

Social Contract

The social contract is a theory in political philosophy suggesting that people live together in society in accordance with an agreement that establishes moral and political rules of behavior.

Rousseau

Jean-Jacques Rousseau, an influential 18th-century philosopher known for his contributions to political philosophy, education, and literature.

  • Explore the concept of social contract by Rousseau and its implications for the need for government.
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Nikki O'MalleyJun 11, 2024
Final Answer :
Rousseau believed that we needed to understand the basic nature of the human condition so we could build a society that most closely resembled our natural tendencies and desires.A perfect society would mirror our natural state.But when social arrangements were inconsistent with these natural rules,society suffered social problems (e.g. ,high crime and suicide rates).Increasing population pressures forced people to work together to meet their material (e.g. ,food)needs.As humans progressed as a collective,certain individuals prospered because they were more gifted farmers,orators,or artisans,and for the first time society began to experience social and economic inequality.It was in this environment that Rousseau saw the greatest need for government;he saw that people needed to be protected from each other and needed to secure their private property.The rise of government,then,was really the manifestation of the social contract.People would willingly enter into the social contract because of the potential for individual and social benefit.