The Social Contract

Thomas Hobbes Social Contract Theory The Leviathan

Life in a State of Nature No laws or government. No rules of morality. Everyone for themselves. Anyone has the ability to kill anyone. Hobbes calls this a “state of WAR”.

The Leviathan “Whatsoever therefore is consequent to a time of war, where every man is enemy to every man, the same consequent to the time wherein men live without other security than what their own strength and their own invention shall furnish them withal.”

“In such condition there is no place for industry, because the fruit thereof is uncertain: and consequently no culture of the earth; no navigation, nor use of the commodities that may be imported by sea; no commodious building; no instruments of moving and removing such things as require much force; no knowledge of the face of the earth; no account of time; no arts; no letters; no society; and which is worst of all, continual fear, and danger of violent death; and the life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.”

Why the state of nature is bad No industry No society No agriculture No pleasure No seafaring Continual Fear

Why does this occur? There is equality of need. There is scarcity of resources. There is essential equality of human power. There is limited altruism.

First Law of Nature “that every man, ought to endeavour peace, as far as he has hope of obtaining it; and when he cannot obtain it, that he may seek and use, all helps, and advantages of war.” Seek peace when you can. “Otherwise, take advantage of war to the extent you can.”

Second Law of Nature “that a man be willing, when others are so too, as far-forth, as for peace, and defense of himself he shall think it necessary, to lay down this right to all things; and be contented with so much liberty against other men, as he would allow other men against himself.” When other people are willing to do the same thing, you should treat others as you would want to be treated, for the sake of peace and your own defense.

Contract Law and Morality Enter into a covenant with other people. This is the basis of and reason for acting morally. Explains the foundations of contracts: you both agree to give up some liberties. In a state of nature, “upon any reasonable suspicion” the contract is void. (Leviathan, 1.14.18)

Third Law of Nature “that men perform their covenants made” “INJUSTICE is no other than the not performance of covenant.” MORALITY IS BASED ON CONTRACTS.

Self Interest (Egoism) Leads to Morality It is in your interest to leave a state of nature. The only way to do that is to give up some of your liberty by entering into a contract to treat others as you would be treated with other people who agree to do the same.

Self Interest (Egoism) Leads to Morality The only way to secure this contract is for everyone to be subject to some coercive power. One result is society as we know it including a governing body and moral rules. Another result is that it is irrational to break the rules.

The Leviathan The “coercive power” Must be stronger than any one person or any group of people “And covenants without the swords are but words.”

The Prisoner’s Dilemma Two criminals Al “Scarface” Capone Jack “Machine Gun” McGurn Major crime Murder of 7 people on St. Valentine’s Day

Minimal evidence connecting them to massacre. Plenty of evidence linking them to bootlegging.

Police interrogate them in separate rooms Police offer them each a deal. Finger the other guy, and walk if he don’t talk. You both stay mum, we lock the both of you up for a year for bootlegging. You both talk, its 20 years in the slammer. But if he talks and you give us the silent treatment, its 40 years at hard labor for you.

Collaborate Stay Mum Al gets 20 Jack gets 20 Al walks Jack gets 40 Machine Gun Collaborate Stay Mum Al gets 20 Jack gets 20 Al walks Jack gets 40 Collaborate Scarface Al gets 40 Jack walks Al gets 1 Jack gets 1 Stay Mum

Structure of a Game Rules of the game Who moves when -- at the same time What do players know and when -- nothing What actions are available at various points Collaborate Stay mum

Outcomes Scarface Stay Mum Collaborate Al gets 20 Jack gets 20 Machine Gun Collaborate Outcomes Al gets 20 Jack gets 20 Al walks Jack gets 40 Al gets 40 Jack walks Al gets 1 Jack gets 1

Years in the slammer for the player Structure of a Game Payoffs What are the payoffs with each outcome? Years in the slammer for the player How do the player's rank the outcomes? Players prefer less years in the pen

Best response for Al “Scarface” Capone What if Jack stays mum?

Jack stays mum Stay Mum Al walks Jack gets 40 Scarface Al gets 1 Machine Gun Jack stays mum Al walks Jack gets 40 Al gets 1 Jack gets 1 Scarface Stay Mum Collaborate

What if Jack collaborates? Al gets the least years by collaborating. What if Jack collaborates?

Jack collaborates Collaborate Al gets 20 Jack gets 20 Scarface Machine Gun Collaborate Jack collaborates Al gets 20 Jack gets 20 Al gets 40 Jack walks Scarface Stay Mum Collaborate

Al sells out and collaborates. Al gets the least years by collaborating. Al has a dominant strategy for this game. Al sells out and collaborates.

Best response for “Machine Gun” McGurn What if Al stays mum?

Al stays mum Stay Mum Collaborate Scarface Stay Mum Al gets 40 Machine Gun Stay Mum Collaborate Al stays mum Scarface Stay Mum Al gets 40 Jack walks Al gets 1 Jack gets 1

Jack gets the least years by collaborating. What if Al collaborates?

Al collaborates Stay Mum Collaborate Al gets 20 Jack gets 20 Al walks Machine Gun Stay Mum Collaborate Al collaborates Al gets 20 Jack gets 20 Al walks Jack gets 40 Scarface Collaborate

Jack sells out and collaborates. Jack gets the least years by collaborating. Jack has a dominant strategy for this game. Jack sells out and collaborates.

In fact Both Al and Jack sell out and get 20 years.

Dominant strategies A strategy that is best for a player, no matter what strategy is chosen by the competing player is called a dominant strategy. A dominant strategy is a strategy that is best for a player regardless of the strategy of the other player.

If a player has a dominant strategy in a game, we can assume that the player will play that strategy. If each player in a game has a dominant strategy, it is easy to find the equilibrium of the game. It is simply the outcome that occurs when each player plays the dominant strategy.

Equilibrium in the prisoner’s dilemma Al and Jack get 20 years If both stayed mum, each would get 1 year

Collusion and/or Cooperation Al and Jack will both stay mum Each will get one year

But this won’t work in the long run Why? If Jack chooses stay mum, Hank collaborates And vice versa

We need a binding contract So what do we need to get the best outcome? We need a binding contract We need a social contract

The Social Contract Morality is the set of rules that rational people will agree to obey, for their mutual benefit, provided that other people will obey them as well.

Social Contract Principles of social justice and moral behavior are chosen in an original agreement “. . . The principles that free and rational persons concerned to further their own interests would accept in an initial position of equality . . .” These principles regulate all further agreements —the kinds of social cooperation and forms of government that are permissible

Social Contract The social contract has two elements 1. A characterization of the initial situation, called variously the "state of nature“, the "original position" or the "initial bargaining position“. 2. A characterization of the parties to the contract, particularly in terms of their rationality and motivation to come to agreement.

Original Position—1 Those in the original position are behind a “veil of ignorance “. . . No one know his place in society, his class position or social status, nor does anyone know his fortune in the distribution of natural assets and abilities, his intelligence, strength, and the like.”

Original Position—2 “. . . parties do not know their conception of the good or their special psychological propensities . . .” “The terms of the social contact are chosen behind a veil of ignorance. This ensures that no one is advantaged or disadvantaged in the choice of principles or rules by the outcome of natural chance or the contingency of social circumstances.”

Parties to the Contract 1. Persons are self-interested. Their preferences and interests do not necessarily include the well being of others. 2. Persons are presumed to want the benefits of social interaction if they can be had without sacrifice of individual self-interest. 3. Justice, and so a social contract, is only possible where there is some possibility of benefit to each individual from cooperation.

What do you think are the major issues?

Example "The duty of the State toward the citizen is the duty of the servant to its master.... One of the duties of the State is that of caring for those of its citizens who find themselves the victims of such adverse circumstances as makes them unable to obtain even the necessities for mere existence without the aid of others.... To these unfortunate citizens aid must be extended by government-not as a matter of charity but as a matter of social duty". F.D.R.