Description The social contract in moral and political philosophy is a theory or model that crystallized in the Age of Enlightenment, and is usually concerned with the extent of the legitimacy of state authority over individuals. The social contract theory specifically advocates that individuals implicitly or explicitly give up some of their freedoms and submit to the ruler's authority in exchange for protecting the rest of their rights.
noun. the voluntary agreement among individuals by which, according to any of various theories, as of Hobbes, Locke, or Rousseau, organized society is brought into being and invested with the right to secure mutual protection and welfare or to regulate the relations among its members. The aim of a social contract theory is to show that members of some society have reason to endorse and comply with the fundamental social rules, laws, institutions, and/or principles of that society. Hope this helps!