Contractarianism

David Gauthier The foundational crisis of morality “Moral language fits a world view that we have abandoned—a view of the world as purposively ordered.”

David Gauthier The foundational crisis of morality “Moral language fits a world view that we have abandoned—a view of the world as purposively ordered.” In the absence of this worldview, we must ask, “What reason can a person have for recognizing and accepting a constraint that is independent of his desires and interests?”

David Gauthier The foundational crisis of morality “Moral language fits a world view that we have abandoned—a view of the world as purposively ordered.” In the absence of this worldview, we must ask, “What reason can a person have for recognizing and accepting a constraint that is independent of his desires and interests?” We have a method of justifying our actions that does not make reference to moral consideration.

Self-interest

Self-interest We justify actions by their propensity to maximize our expected utility

Self-interest We justify actions by their propensity to maximize our expected utility So- not utilitarianism. Valuation seen as subjective.

So why accept constraints on behavior at all? Self-interest We justify actions by their propensity to maximize our expected utility So- not utilitarianism. Valuation seen as subjective. So why accept constraints on behavior at all?

So why accept constraints on behavior at all? Self-interest We justify actions by their propensity to maximize our expected utility So- not utilitarianism. Valuation seen as subjective. So why accept constraints on behavior at all?

The Prisoner’s Dilemma

The Prisoner’s Dilemma “In many situations, if each person chooses what, given the choices of others, will maximize her expected utility, then the outcome will be mutually disadvantageous in comparison with some alternative— everyone could do better.”

The Prisoner’s Dilemma “In many situations, if each person chooses what, given the choices of others, will maximize her expected utility, then the outcome will be mutually disadvantageous in comparison with some alternative— everyone could do better.” Gauthier’s solution: “If one benefits more from a constraint on others than one loses by being constrained oneself, one may have reason to accept a practice requiring everyone, including oneself, to exhibit such a constraint.”

Justifiable Moral Practices “Justifiable moral practices are those that would secure our agreement ex ante, in an appropriate pre-moral situation.” Only such practices, Gauthier claims, will invite stable compliance. Moral constraints justified by mutual self-interest