contractarianism


con·trac·tar·i·an·ism

C0605350 (kŏn′trăk-târ′ē-ə-nĭz′əm)n. Any of various theories that justify moral principles or political arrangements by appealing to a social contract that is voluntarily committed to under ideal conditions for such commitment. Also called contractualism.
con′trac·tar′i·an adj.con′trac·tar′i·an·ist adj.