Sorry, don't mean to be rude. Charming, though.

Hello. If "social contract" is defined as "an implicit agreement among the members of a society to cooperate for social benefits, for example by sacrificing some individual freedom for state protection", I'm afraid that it is needed right now in the thick of COVID-19 crisis in the UK.

@Naomi. Socialism has yet to ever be voted in by any electorate. It has ALWAYS been implemented by fiat, at the point of a gun, or by boiling the frog, as in the UK. Not a legitimate "social contract." In the blitz the non-socialist healthcare system handled 50,000 injuries. Today under a socialist healthcare system they are overwhelmed at 2000. Hello.

@TimTuolomne "In the blitz the non-socialist healthcare system handled 50,000 injuries. Today under a socialist healthcare system they are overwhelmed at 2000." what is your information source?
In any event, perhaps you're confusing socialism with communitarianism, or even simpler, community spirit... It is ironic that COVID-19 is uniting individuals and the communities to which they belong in the UK. They've started communicating with each other better and looking after each other better. Supermarkets have set hours specifically for the elderly and medical staff who came off their shifts to shop in a relaxed manner. Hotels are offering rooms absolutely free for the homeless for protection, and medical staff who wish to save time and energy on travelling back and forth between their homes and workplaces. Restaurants are offering free food for key workers like carers. This is community spirit and not much to do with socialism which is a political and economic theory.

@Naomi You are describing "Charity begins at home" which is the antithesis of socialism. You can look up both figures about the UK healthcare system in minutes if you choose. If I were you, I would consider that my responsibility.

@TimTuolomne Exactly - socialism doesn't come into it. You're the one who mentioned socialism!

@Naomi. The article mentions "Collectivism;" a term invented by Karl Marx. And you said: "sacrificing some individual freedom for state protection, I'm afraid that it is needed right now in the thick of COVID-19 crisis in the UK." Do you recognize that as socialism? By definition, it is.

@TimTuolomne I ignore that bit. I'm aware that The Conversation is a tad left-leaning.

@Naomi Your statement about "sacrificing some individual freedom for state protection, I'm afraid that it is needed right now in the thick of COVID-19 crisis in the UK." tells me you did considerably more than not "ignore that bit."

@Naomi and Tim: Now look at what you have gotten yourselves into, a subject that is way deeper and more complex that each of you have time to sort out trading comments. I kinda sorta understand what each of you are trying to say but you need way more space to get a very important topic discussed. Perhaps the topic of personal responsibility needs a new forum. Jordan Peterson has some interesting things to say about it.

@Naomi, @TimTuolomne: Now look at what you have gotten yourselves into, a subject that is way deeper and more complex that each of you have time to sort out trading comments. I kinda sorta understand what each of you are trying to say but you need way more space to get a very important topic discussed. Perhaps the topic of personal responsibility needs a new forum. Jordan Peterson has some interesting things to say about it.

@TimTuolomne My understanding of socialism is different from yours. It is a political and economic theory; state ownership of the means of production and workers' self-management of enterprises. I tend to think community ethics separately. Beside, even IF I have a bit of socialist in me, that's not a crime, is it? I rest my case.

Hello ScottforKing. I followed JP for a long time. I watched his lectures about right, entitlement, responsibility, consequence, that sort of things, and I did understand his points very well. I left when his political bent became clear to me. I tend to avoid political polarisation.

@Naomi, In a representative republic it would not be a crime, thank goodness, and I presume it is not there either. We amicably disagree on the viability of individual rights in "..state ownership of the means of production and workers' self-management of enterprises." as you've rested your case I will leave it at that. Very best regards.