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social contract

social contract In historical philosophical usage, a social contract is the idea that the formation of a state or society rests on a kind of contract or agreement among free persons.

In historical philosophical usage, a social contract is the idea that the formation of a state or society rests on a kind of contract or agreement among free persons. It treats social or political union as founded on mutual consent.

Sources

Drafting source: Baldwin Dictionary of Philosophy and Psychology, 1901. 1901 New York Macmillan original; archive index checked 2026-10-18. “Contract” (Contract).
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PsychTerms (psychterms.org), CC BY 4.0, version 1. “social contract.” Development preview.

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social contract

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Sources

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