Final answer:
Citizens do not sign a physical social contract but show their agreement by following laws and fulfilling civic duties like paying taxes and voting. This metaphorical contract entails surrendering some freedoms in exchange for the government's protection and provision of services such as public safety and infrastructure.
Step-by-step explanation:
Thomas Hobbes' concept of the social contract is a foundational theory in political philosophy stating that citizens give up certain freedoms to a government in exchange for protection and the provision of public goods. Rather than signing a physical document, individuals adhere to this contract by participating in and abiding by the laws and moral codes of society, thus contributing to social order and benefiting from the services and protections provided by the state. The civic duty of citizens is demonstrated through activities such as following laws, voting, paying taxes, and serving on a jury – actions that uphold the social contract and support the government.
Philosophers like John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau expanded on the social contract concept, arguing for the ultimate authority of the people over government, and insisting on a government's role to protect individual rights. According to Locke, if a government fails to protect the rights of its citizens, they have the right to overthrow it. Rousseau believed the legitimacy of a government is determined by the 'general will' or the collective interest of the people, and if a government does not adhere to these principles, its authority is nullified.
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