The philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau popularized the idea of the social contract in the 1700s, but it is equally applicable today. As members of a society, we accept the social contract – we cooperate with each other and obey the laws of society. We also give up certain freedoms because we want the protection that society can offer. The founders of the United States believed that the social contract made citizens powerful and gave them a collective voice in their government. Search: `Social Contract` in Oxford Reference » A social contract is an unofficial agreement shared by all in a society where they give up some freedom for security. A term that dates back to the English philosopher Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) and was explained by Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778) and describes the desirable and for the most part mutually accepted forms of interaction between individuals and groups in their social environment. Modern political philosophers give the term a special meaning: an unwritten agreement on the rights and duties between a state and its citizens. Join our community to access the latest language learning and assessment tips from Oxford University Press! “Farce” vs “Dressing”: Do you know the difference? Find the answers online with Practical English Usage, your essential guide to English language problems. What is the difference between “that” and “being”? What came first: Turkey the bird or Turkey the nation? “Epidemic” vs. “Pandemic” vs. “Endemic”: What do these terms mean? Describe 2020 in one word? We asked, you answered. Find out which words work together and create more natural English with the Oxford Collocations Dictionary app.

“Affect” vs “Effect”: Use the right word whenever the popular story about the name of Black Friday is a myth Why do “left” and “right” mean liberal and conservative?. . . .