Social Contract Theory & the Motive to be Moral

Hobbes State of Nature Human beings always act out of perceived self-interest, we invariably seek gratification and avoid harm.

The Argument 1. Nature has made us basically equal in physical and mental abilities such that each has the ability to harm and even kill another. 2. We all want to satisfy our goals such as having sufficient food, shelter, security, power, wealth, etc. 3. This “state of nature” is the cause of social instability, creating the need for social contracts.

As rational people, we can see that by giving up some of our liberty and agree to a social contract or covenant, we can avoid an existence that would be unbearable hell.

Definition: The central idea is that people collectively agree to behave morally as a way to reduce social chaos and create peace.

Influential on American democracy, especially Thomas Jefferson State of Nature – natural condition of mankind is a state of perfect and complete liberty to conduct one’s life as one best sees fit, free from interference of others.

Political society comes into being when individual men, representing their families, come together in the State of Nature and agree to each other to give up the executive power to punish those who transgress the natural law.

Lived during the Enlightenment period. State of Nature was a peaceful time when people lived solitary, uncomplicated lives. Their few needs were easily satisfied by nature. Little conflict because societies weren’t overpopulated.

Ownership of private property constituted a pivotal moment in history, moving humanity out of a simple pure state into one characterized by greed, competition, vanity, inequality, and vice. Invention of private property was humanities “fall from grace” out of the State of Nature.

Since the State of Nature is not feasible, the purpose of politics is to restore freedom, reconciling who we are with how we live. How can we live among each other without the risk of force or coercion?

Submission of the individual will to the collective or general will, created through agreement with other free and equal persons.

Hobbes: Human beings always act out of perceived self-interest, we invariably seek gratification and avoid harm. Locke: The natural condition of mankind is a state of perfect and complete liberty to conduct one’s life as one best sees fit, free from interference of others. Rousseau: a peaceful time when people lived solitary, uncomplicated lives. Their few needs were easily satisfied by nature. Little conflict because societies weren’t overpopulated.

Rules provide restraint for the self and others in a society. Rules restrict freedom. Rules promote greater freedom.

 Keep society from falling apart  Reduce human suffering  Promote human flourishing  Resolve conflicts of interest in just and orderly ways  Assign praise and blame, reward and punishment, and guilt

Morality is a social activity. But what if you are on a deserted island?

Plato argued that we should choose the life of the unsuccessful just person because it is to our advantage to be moral. Virtue purifies the inner person, so one is happy or unhappy in exact proportion to one’s moral integrity.

Gyges Jim & Jack

When we won’t get caught. Conflict between morality & self- interest

Prisoner’s Dilemma Lesson: It is better to secretly violate society’s rules regardless of what other people do. Is it?

 If an act is morally right, then it must be reasonable to do it.  If it is reasonable to do the act, then it must be in my interest to do it.  But sometimes the requirements of morality are incompatible with the requirements of self-interest  Hence, a morally right act must be reasonable and need not be reasonable, which is a contradiction

The principle of rational self-interest seems unduly based on the position that people always act to satisfy their perceived best interest. Psychological egoism – the theory that we always do that act that we perceive to be in our own best self-interest.