social contract
Pronunciation
Noun
B2 Upper-intermediate
Quick answer
The idea that people agree, implicitly or explicitly, to give up certain freedoms in exchange for the protection and order a society provides.
Test yourself
Which word fits the gap? "Philosophers like Rousseau argued that government's legitimacy rests on a _____ with the people."
Answer: social contract
In your own words, what does "social contract" mean?
The idea that people agree, implicitly or explicitly, to give up certain freedoms in exchange for the protection and order a society provides.
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