Which of the following statements best describes the idea of the social contract?
A. The social contract is the idea that the British government had an obligation to protect the colonies.
B. The social contract is the idea that the colonies should be entitled to a degree of self-government.
C. The social contract is the idea that people receive natural rights from the government and are protected by it in exchange for allegiance.
D. The social contract is the idea that people enter into an unspoken agreement with each other for the protection of their natural rights.
D. The social contract is the idea that people enter into an unspoken agreement with each other for the protection of their natural rights.
To determine which statement best describes the idea of the social contract, let's break down each option and understand their meanings:
A. The statement suggests that the British government had an obligation to protect the colonies. While it may relate to the relationship between the British government and the colonies, it does not directly capture the concept of the social contract.
B. This statement suggests that the colonies should be entitled to a degree of self-government. While self-government can be a part of the social contract, it is just one aspect and doesn't encompass the entire concept.
C. The statement accurately describes the social contract by stating that people receive natural rights from the government and are protected by it in exchange for allegiance. This idea highlights the reciprocal relationship between individuals and their government.
D. This statement suggests that people enter into an unspoken agreement with each other for the protection of their natural rights. While there is an element of agreement involved in the social contract, it does not solely depend on an unspoken agreement between individuals.
Therefore, option C, "The social contract is the idea that people receive natural rights from the government and are protected by it in exchange for allegiance," best describes the concept of the social contract.