The Evolution of Social Contract Theory

The work is an analysis of the changes that have occurred with the theory of social contract, depending on the needs of the era and the state of social ideas. There are two main stages in the development of the theory of social contract: the first is the classical one, dating to the 17-18th century; the second is modern, starting in the 70s of the 20th century. The purpose of this study is to recreate the general scientific logic of the theory of social contract. To achieve this, the texts of the classics of the theory of social contract of Thomas Hobbes, John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau are compared with the works of their modern followers - John Rawls, Robert Nozick and Philip Pettit. It also demonstrates how theories of social contract were embodied in life on the example of the American and French revolution, the socio-political transformations of Spain and other less visible socio-political transformations.