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Social Contract Theories

Social Contract Theories. Introduction. Reminder on Kant: What is morality?. Social Contract Theories: Foundation of morality Legitimacy of government in the modern Western world. Hobbes, Kant and Rawls. Hobbes: Morality based on self-interest! . Outline.

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Social Contract Theories

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  1. Social Contract Theories Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana

  2. Introduction Reminder on Kant: What is morality? Social Contract Theories: • Foundation of morality • Legitimacy of government in the modern Western world Hobbes, Kant and Rawls • Hobbes: Morality based on self-interest!

  3. Outline From the state of nature to the social contract Morality and self-interest: the prisoner’s dilemma Advantages Objections and Answers Conclusion

  4. State of nature = state of war ``of every man against every man” The State of Nature Why? 1- equality of need 2- scarcity of resources 3- equality of power 4- self interest Why is it bad? “and the life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short” • The state of nature is to be avoided!

  5. The Social Contract Foundation: Rational, self-interested people Components: 1st law: each one protects oneself 2nd law: give up the liberties when the others do too, in order to guarantee peaceful social living 3: Establishment of government necessary – receives the liberties that the citizen have given up • Entering the Social Contract is the best strategy to satisfy our own interests • Is it true?

  6. Outline From the state of nature to the social contract Morality and self-interest: the prisoner’s dilemma Advantages Objections and Answers Conclusion

  7. Game Theory The Prisoner Dilemma: (Flood and Mesmer 1950) The game: Rational answer for each prisoner: To accuse the other Result: worse for both than cooperation • Cooperation is the best rational choice in cases of inter-related interests

  8. Outline From the state of nature to the social contract Morality and self-interest: the prisoner’s dilemma Advantages Objections and Answers Conclusion

  9. Advantages of Social Contract Theories 1. Foundation of moral social behavior: where the rules come from and why we follow them 2. Bounds on morality: • Private vs public life • Civil disobedience • No moral favors required • SCT restrict morality to the necessary rules for peaceful social living • Foundation of Democratic Governement

  10. Outline From the state of nature to the social contract Morality and self-interest: the prisoner’s dilemma Advantages Objections and Answers Conclusion

  11. Objections and Answers Objections Answers Egoism (Hobbes) Impartiality (Kant, Rawls) Actual Contract (Hobbes) Implicit Contract (Kant, Rawls) No responsibility outside of contract (Hobbes)

  12. Outline From the state of nature to the social contract Morality and self-interest: the prisoner’s dilemma Advantages Objections and Answers Conclusion

  13. Social Contract Theories Conclusion Deficient as a foundation of morality Moral behavior is more than rational behavior between rational agents Successful as a foundation of political authority Reminder: legal vs moral Obligations and Rights of citizens in modern democracies

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