Social Contract Theory Thomas Hobbes 5 April 1588 – 4 December 1679 Leviathan 1651 1

The State of Nature 2

The Basic Facts of Human nature People have equal basic needs (e.g. food, sex, shelter, warmth, etc.) 2) The good that fulfill our needs are of limited supply. 3) Human power is essentially equal. 4) Human beings are fundamentally self interested

Egoism The only real motivation we ever have is self-interest – our own personal pleasure and well-being. Other things – even other people! - only matter to us insofar as they contribute to our pleasure and well-being 4

Reason Cost/Benefit Analysis

The Social Contract 6

Objections to the theory 1) There never was a social contract 2) Why should I obey the contract? 3) What about duties to those who can't agree to the contract and/or benefit us (i.e., non-human animals, babies, severely cognitively challenged people).