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the idea that government originates as an implied contract among individuals who agree to obey laws in exchange for protection of their rights is known as the

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Final answer:

The concept in question is the Social Contract Theory, which holds that governments derive their legitimacy from a mutual agreement with the citizens to protect their rights in exchange for obedience to laws.

Step-by-step explanation:

The idea that government originates as an implied contract among individuals who agree to obey laws in exchange for protection of their rights is known as the Social Contract Theory. This theory suggests that citizens collectively agree to surrender some natural freedoms and submit to the authority of the state in order to ensure that their remaining rights are protected. Philosophers like John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau were proponents of this theory, advocating the notion that a government holds power by the consent of the governed alone. The state's legitimacy is derived from this consent, and it provides justice and stability in return for the people's compliance with its laws. If the government fails to protect the natural rights of citizens, Locke asserted that they have the right to overthrow and replace the unfit government. On the other hand, Rousseau emphasized the concept of the general will, stating that legitimate state power must reflect the collective will of the people.

User Sergserg
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Final answer:

The Social Contract Theory posits that a moral and political obligation exists between the government and its people, where individuals give up certain freedoms in exchange for protection of their rights.

Step-by-step explanation:

The idea that government originates as an implied contract among individuals who agree to obey laws in exchange for the protection of their rights is known as the Social Contract Theory.

This theory suggests that individuals in a society consent to surrender some of their freedoms and submit to the authority of the government in order to gain protection of their remaining rights. Philosophers such as John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau were instrumental in developing the concept of the social contract.

They postulated that a government's legitimacy is derived from the consent of the governed and that this government has an obligation to protect the natural rights of the citizens.

User Sam Warwick
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