What is Social Contract Theory?
A Social Contract happens when people give up certain freedoms for protection by a governing force. The moral rules that we accept are, put simply, the rules that we need to survive. These rules also give us the benefits of living within society. If we didn't have a Social Contract we would have a State of Nature. We become different people altogether when not dealing with others, when we are reacting civilly we are much more open to suggestion. This theory practically makes those who don't benefit us like cattle, they don't matter. Those who don't benefit society would be infants, animals, injured, and the elderly. |
What is a State of Nature?
A State of Nature is when the social contract has been broken. The governing body dissolves and the people are left to fend for themselves. In a State of Nature there are a few important qualities. 1) Equality of need: we all need the same things to survive. 2) Scarcity: it takes hard work to produce little of something that everyone needs 3) Equality of human power: some are stronger or tougher than most but they can be brought down by the will of others. 4) Limited Altruism: cannot rely on the good will of others. |
Examples of Social Contract Theory
The Prisoners Dilemma is a classic example of Social Contract Theory. There are two men in jail. Their names are Dave and Steve. If Dave confesses but Steve stays quiet Steve goes to jail for ten years but if Steve confesses and Dave stays quiet Dave goes to jail for ten years. If they both confess they both go to jail for five years. If they both stay quiet they get one year. But they cannot talk to each other at all. (see the example button for more)
Arguments against it
Our generation did not sign any kind of contract. Why should we have to follow the rules that we are bound to. Just because someone's ancestors signed or agree to a contract does not mean that people should be bound to the faults, successes, or agreements of our fathers.
What we think!
I think that Social Contract Theory has a lot of flaws. The fact that everyone turns to human nature (extremely self-interested) makes it so that the people who have no benefit to others need to fend for themselves when they can't seems wrong to me. It isn't right to make an infant fend for themselves.
The Prisoners Dilemma is a classic example of Social Contract Theory. There are two men in jail. Their names are Dave and Steve. If Dave confesses but Steve stays quiet Steve goes to jail for ten years but if Steve confesses and Dave stays quiet Dave goes to jail for ten years. If they both confess they both go to jail for five years. If they both stay quiet they get one year. But they cannot talk to each other at all. (see the example button for more)
Arguments against it
Our generation did not sign any kind of contract. Why should we have to follow the rules that we are bound to. Just because someone's ancestors signed or agree to a contract does not mean that people should be bound to the faults, successes, or agreements of our fathers.
What we think!
I think that Social Contract Theory has a lot of flaws. The fact that everyone turns to human nature (extremely self-interested) makes it so that the people who have no benefit to others need to fend for themselves when they can't seems wrong to me. It isn't right to make an infant fend for themselves.