Pactum Subiectionis and Pactum Societatis – Key Concepts of the Contract Theory

Abstract

The article contains a discussion of the pactum subiectionis and the pactum societatis, two types of contracts that are present in political theory, that has translate creation of a government and the state. Pactum subiectionis prototype we can already find in the biblical narrative, in the descriptions of the rule of the ancient Israelites. The idea of pactum subiectionis was present in medieval and early modern thought. The agreement defined as pactum societatis was developed in Leviathan Thomas Hobbes. John Locke in his contract theory was inspired by the novelty of Hobbes’ thought, in final form, this theory was not as individualistic, as is usually believed. It
seems that Locke was closer to the traditional topics of political thought than revolutionary arguments of Hobbes.