While the man has no legal right to what he considers "his" land, he certainly seems justified in being angered at the idea. One day, a government representative arrives to lay claim to the trees surrounding his abode. However, how can it be guaranteed that every resident is fully cognizant of the specifics of the social contract? For example, consider a squatter who has spent his entire life living in a small hut in the woods. Rousseau specifies that by taking up residence in civilized society, individuals tacitly consent to the dictates of the social contract. This perspective, however, ignores the fact that social contract theory is more of a philosophy than an actual contract, and is thus not held to the same standards. Rousseau, however, holds that even individuals who disagree with elements of the social contract must nevertheless agree to abide by it or risk punishment. Contract theory - as distinct from social contract theory - permits individuals to abstain from entering into a contract. Rousseau's famous statement in The Social Contract has been called into question by a number of critics who believe that the idea of "force" negates the requirement that a contract be entered into voluntarily.
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