Question

Is self-interest a key motivation for social contract theorists?

Answer 1

Answer:

Social Contract Theory

According to social contract theory (SCT),

“morality consists in the set of rules governing behavior, that rational people would accept, on the condition that others accept them as well.”

(Rachels, p. 145)

Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679)

“A State of Nature” = anarchy

Makes life “poor, nasty, brutish and short”

This is because of 4 features of the human condition:

· equality of need

· scarcity

· the essential equality of human power

· limited altruism

In a “state of nature”, there are no social goods… No

Farming

Industry

Education

Housing

Technology

Etc.

….because the social cooperation needed to produce these things doesn’t exist.

In order to avoid this fate,

(1) there must be guarantees that people will not harm one another, and

(2) people must be able to rely on one another to keep their agreements.

Only a government can provide for (1) and (2). Therefore, we need a government. In establishing a government, people give up some of their personal freedom (the freedom of anarchy, such as it is) and give the government the authority to enforce laws and agreements.

Those living under a government are parties to a social contract. Each person agrees to follow the laws of the state on the condition that everyone else does the same. That way, we are all relatively safe from each other and we all benefit from the other social goods that will result.

According to SCT, “the state exists to enforce the rules necessary for social living, while morality consists in the whole set of rules that facilitate social living”. (Rachels, p. 144) Thus, government is needed to enforce the basic rules of social living (e.g. don’t rob people, don’t break agreements), while morality may encompass some rules that are important for social living but are outside the scope of the state (this might include, for example, “Don’t insult people for no reason”.)