What Are the Four Theories of the Origins of Governments?
The four theories surrounding the origins of government are the natural theory, the divine theory, the social compact theory and the force theory. These four theories can be applied to any form of government that has existed over the centuries.
The natural theory, proposed by the likes of Aristotle and Plato, states that humans are political beings by nature and could not survive without some form of government in place. The divine theory states that government is ordained from God, citing Moses and the Ten Commandments as a form of government. The social compact, supported by well-known people like John Locke, states that government was purposely created by humans because they realized there was something missing to protect them and ensure their way of life. The force theory says that government came to be through force and conquest.
