Any of various theories that justify moral principles and political choices because they depend on a social contract involving certain ideal conditions, as lack of ignorance or uncertainty.
"Hobbes, Locke, Kant, and Rousseau spoke of contractarianism in their political commentary."
A general ethical theory that individuals make the right choices under a hypothetical social contract.
"John Locke thought tacit consent was a paramount feature of contractarianism."
"Contractarianism" or "contractualism" originates from Thomas Hobbes's social contract theory. Contractarianism is based on the belief that individuals are fundamentally 'egoistic/self-interested', and as such, a rational means of 'maximizing' one's self-interest is through acting morally in circumstances were 'moral norms' are drawn from the maximization of 'mutual interests', and to consent to be 'governed' by a bureaucracy or municipal authority.