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How does Henry's statement reflect the idea of social contract? How does the idea of social contract protect people's natural and individual rights?

the statement: "The most valuable end of government is the liberty of its inhabitants. No possible advantages can compensate for the loss of this privilege."
—Patrick Henry

User Squagem
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Answer:

Basically, what the statement is saying is that the constituents of a government are it's most valuable resource, and nothing is more important than that resource. The social contract is the implicit agreement between the government and the people saying that if the people follow laws and work together for societal benefits, it is the responsibility of the government to protect them. This Reflects the idea of the social contract because the government's most valuable resource is its people, and under the social contract, if they follow laws, it is the government's responsibility to protect them and their rights. As for how the social contract protects people's rights, if the constituents follow laws and contribute towards the development of society, it is the governments responsibility to protect their rights.

User Clinomaniac
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