Which statement best captures Social Contract Theory?

### Why this is right Social Contract Theory links shared obligations to the benefits of cooperative life. People accept some restrictions in return for protection, order, and rights. ### The concept The “contract” may be an actual agreement or a hypothetical agreement about rules people could reasonably accept. It helps explain why citizens and organizations have responsibilities to one another. It does not mean that every existing rule is fair or that everyone has personally consented. A social contract is legitimate only when its rules and protections can be justified to the people affected. ### The other options - **B. People should always maximize personal freedom, regardless of effects on others.** This describes unrestricted individual choice, not reciprocal obligations. - **C. A rule is ethical whenever most people follow it.** Popularity does not prove fairness; accepted rules can benefit some groups unfairly. - **D. Government authority is legitimate only when it eliminates every personal restriction.** Social contracts allow reasonable restrictions in exchange for shared benefits. ### Terms - **Social Contract Theory**: A view that shared rules and authority are justified through an actual or hypothetical agreement for cooperative social life. ### Remember A social contract exchanges some freedom for shared protection, but acceptance alone does not make a rule ethical.