Given below are two statements, one levelled as Assertion (A) and the other levelled as Reason (R) : Assertion (A): Social contract theory associated with modern moral and political theory was rejected by Hume on the ground of having no historical reference. Reason (R): Social contract theory is the view that persons' moral obligations are dependent upon an agreement among them. But there is no historical evidence of when the first contract was signed in the context of the two statements, which one of the following is correct?

Given below are two statements, one levelled as Assertion (A) and the other levelled as Reason (R) : Assertion (A): Social contract theory associated with modern moral and political theory was rejected by Hume on the ground of having no historical reference. Reason (R): Social contract theory is the view that persons' moral obligations are dependent upon an agreement among them. But there is no historical evidence of when the first contract was signed in the context of the two statements, which one of the following is correct? Correct Answer Both (A) and (R) are correct and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)

The correct answer is Both (A) and (R) are correct and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).

Key Points

• Social Contract theory
  • The idea of the social contract goes back at least to Epicurus.
  • In its recognizably modern form, however, the idea is revived by Thomas Hobbes; it was developed in different ways by John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and Immanuel Kant.
  • After Kant, the idea largely fell into disrepute until it was resurrected by John Rawls.
  • It is now at the heart of the work of several moral and political philosophers.
  • Social contract theory is rightly associated with modern moral and political theory and is given its first full exposition and defence by Thomas Hobbes.
  • According to Hume Hobbes did not believe that there was an actual point in history when people got together and signed a social contract.
  • However, if the social contract is not a specific historical agreement, then serious questions are raised about what kind of agreement it actually is and how it forms the basis of morality and governance.
  • Hence Social contract theory associated with modern moral and political theory was rejected by Hume on the ground of having no historical reference. Hence, the Assertion is correct.
  • Social contract theory, nearly as old as philosophy itself, 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. 
  • Contract theory derives a moral obligation to obey government from a moral obligation to keep promises.
  • But the moral obligation to keep promises derives says Hume, from a more fundamental obligation to further the common good, promise-keeping being greatly in the public interest.
  • According to Hume, Hobbes did not believe that there was an actual point in history when people got together and signed a social contract. However, if the social contract is not a specific historical agreement, then serious questions are raised about what kind of agreement it actually is and how it forms the basis of morality and governance. Hence, the Reason is correct. 
  • Social contract theory is the view that persons' moral obligations are dependent upon an agreement among them. But there is no historical evidence of when the first contract was signed.