Consent theory is a term for the idea in
social philosophy
Social philosophy examines questions about the foundations of social institutions, social behavior, and interpretations of society in terms of ethical values rather than empirical relations. Social philosophers emphasize understanding the social ...
that individuals primarily make decisions as
free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player who is eligible to sign with other clubs or franchises; i.e., not under contract to any specific team. The term is also used in reference to a player who is under contract at present but who is a ...
s entering into consensual relationships with other free agents, and that this becomes the basis for political governance. An early elaborator of this idea was
John Locke
John Locke (; 29 August 1632 – 28 October 1704) was an English philosopher and physician, widely regarded as one of the most influential of Age of Enlightenment, Enlightenment thinkers and commonly known as the "father of liberalism ...
, from whom the expression "
all men are created equal
The quotation "all men are created equal" is part of the sentence in the U.S. Declaration of Independence
The United States Declaration of Independence, formally The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen States of America, is the pronounc ...
" can be traced. Consent theory goes back at least to the 16th century.
Criticism
One criticism is after the original administering of consent by the people, subsequent generations often only give
tacit consent
A silence procedure or tacit consent or tacit acceptance procedure (French: ''procédure d'approbation tacite''; Latin: '' qui tacet consentire videtur'', "he who is silent is taken to agree", "silence implies/means consent") is a way of formally a ...
to the government. Without the power to refuse consent, true consent cannot be given.
See also
*
Consent
Consent occurs when one person voluntarily agrees to the proposal or desires of another. It is a term of common speech, with specific definitions as used in such fields as the law, medicine, research, and sexual relationships. Consent as und ...
*
Social contract
In moral and political philosophy
Political philosophy or political theory is the philosophical study of government, addressing questions about the nature, scope, and legitimacy of public agents and institutions and the relationships betw ...
*
Consent of the governed
In political philosophy, the phrase consent of the governed refers to the idea that a government's legitimacy and moral right to use state power is justified and lawful only when consented to by the people or society over which that political powe ...
Notes
References
* ''Happy Slaves: A Critique of Consent Theory'' by Don Herzog (1989)
Political philosophy
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