Religion Past and Present

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Social Contract
(776 words)

[German Version]

Social contract theories are socio- and politico-philosophical conceptions that consider the legitimation of political authority and social order to be grounded in a hypothetical contract entered into by free, rational, and equal individuals to improve their lot on a pre-social context under idea, non-compelling conditions. Such theories make universal capacity to consent their fundamental criterion of legitimacy. Restriction of freedom in any form, from the establishment of state…

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Kersting, Wolfgang, “Social Contract”, in: Religion Past and Present. Consulted online on 28 March 2024 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/1877-5888_rpp_SIM_08560>
First published online: 2011
First print edition: ISBN: 9789004146662, 2006-2013



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