What does Social Contract Theory assert?

Social Contract Theory posits that the moral and political obligations of individuals arise from an implicit agreement among them to form a society. This concept suggests that moral codes and ethical standards are not given or universal but instead created collectively by the people who agree to abide by certain rules or norms for mutual benefit and social order. Individuals within a society consent to conform to these codes in exchange for protection and the benefits of living in a structured community. This underlies the idea that social agreements shape the values and ethics that govern societal interactions, emphasizing the role of collective agreement in morality rather than inherent or universally accepted standards.

In contrast, the other options suggest fixed or objective principles of morality, which do not align with the fundamental premise of Social Contract Theory that morality is created through social consensus and can vary across different societies.