social contract theories
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Social Contract Theories. Introduction. Reminder on Kant: What is morality?. Social Contract Theories: Foundation of morality Legitimacy of government in the modern Western world. Hobbes, Kant and Rawls. Hobbes: Morality based on self-interest! . Outline. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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Social Contract TheoriesSocial Contract Theories
Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana
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IntroductionIntroduction
Reminder on Kant: What is morality?
Social Contract Theories: - Foundation of morality- Legitimacy of government in the modern Western
world
Hobbes: Morality based on self-interest!
Hobbes, Kant and Rawls
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OutlineOutline
From the state of nature to the social contract
Morality and self-interest: the prisoner’s dilemma
Advantages
Conclusion
Objections and Answers
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The State of NatureThe State of Nature
State of nature = state of war ``of every man against every man”
Why?1- equality of need2- scarcity of resources 3- equality of power4- self interest
The state of nature is to be avoided!
Why is it bad?“and the life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short”
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The Social ContractThe Social Contract
Foundation: Rational, self-interested people
Components:1st law: each one protects oneself 2nd law: give up the liberties when the others do too, in
order to guarantee peaceful social living 3: Establishment of government necessary – receives the
liberties that the citizen have given up
Entering the Social Contract is the best strategy to satisfy our own interests
Is it true?
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OutlineOutline
From the state of nature to the social contract
Morality and self-interest: the prisoner’s dilemma
Objections and Answers
Conclusion
Advantages
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The Prisoner Dilemma: The Prisoner Dilemma: (Flood and Mesmer 1950)(Flood and Mesmer 1950)
The game:
Cooperation is the best rational choice in cases of inter-related interests
Jones accuses S.
Jones does not
Smith accuses J.
5/5 10/0
Smith does not
0/10 1/1Rational answer for each prisoner: To accuse the otherResult: worse for both than cooperation
Game Theory
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OutlineOutline
From the state of nature to the social contract
Morality and self-interest: the prisoner’s dilemma
Objections and Answers
Conclusion
Advantages
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Advantages of Social Contract Advantages of Social Contract TheoriesTheories
1. Foundation of moral social behavior: where the rules come from and why we follow them
2. Bounds on morality:- Private vs public life- Civil disobedience- No moral favors required
SCT restrict morality to the necessary rules for peaceful social living
Foundation of Democratic Governement
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OutlineOutline
From the state of nature to the social contract
Morality and self-interest: the prisoner’s dilemma
Objections and Answers
Conclusion
Advantages
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Objections and AnswersObjections and Answers
Objections Answers
Egoism(Hobbes)
Impartiality(Kant, Rawls)
Actual Contract(Hobbes)
Implicit Contract(Kant, Rawls)
No responsibility outside of contract(Hobbes)
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OutlineOutline
From the state of nature to the social contract
Morality and self-interest: the prisoner’s dilemma
Objections and Answers
Conclusion
Advantages
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Social Contract TheoriesSocial Contract TheoriesConclusionConclusion
Deficient as a foundation of moralityMoral behavior is more than rational behavior between
rational agentsSuccessful as a foundation of political authorityReminder: legal vs moralObligations and Rights of citizens in modern democracies