Consent theory is a term for the idea in
social philosophy
Social philosophy is the study and interpretation of society and social institutions in terms of ethical values rather than empirical relations. Social philosophers emphasize understanding the social contexts for political, legal, moral and cultur ...
that individuals primarily make decisions as
free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player or manager 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 a contract at present ...
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 (Old Style and New Style dates, O.S.) – 28 October 1704 (Old Style and New Style dates, O.S.)) was an English philosopher and physician, widely regarded as one of the most influential of the Enlightenment thi ...
, from whom the expression "
all men are created equal
The quotation "all men are created equal" is found in the United States Declaration of Independence and is a phrase that has come to be seen as emblematic of America's founding ideals. The final form of the sentence was stylized by Benjamin Fran ...
" 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 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 used in such fields as the law, medicine, research, and sexual consent. Consent as understood i ...
*
Social contract
In moral and political philosophy, the social contract is an idea, theory, or model that usually, although not always, concerns the legitimacy of the authority of the state over the individual. Conceptualized in the Age of Enlightenment, it ...
*
Consent of the governed
In political philosophy, consent of the governed is the idea that a government's political legitimacy, legitimacy and natural and legal rights, moral right to use state power is justified and lawful only when consented to by the people or society o ...
Notes
References
* ''Happy Slaves: A Critique of Consent Theory'' by
Don Herzog (1989)
Concepts in political philosophy
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