The Issue Of Social Contract Theory - 1814 Words

The social contract is not worth the paper it s not written on. Can social contract theory adequately explain why we should obey the law? In its simplest form, the social contract theory is the view that, within an organised society, people s rights and duties are bound by a theoretical contract that they sign with the state. Through the use of the contract, each member s political and moral obligations are clearly defined, which in turn intends to benefit the society as a whole. I intend to argue that, as a member of such a civilisation, you have a duty to obey the law and the rules of this contract in order to increase the liberty and well-being of the people. Although many philosophers have offered their views on social contract theory throughout time, there are two main theorists whose innovative ideas have ensured that this is one of the most contentious debates in philosophy. On one side of the fence sits Thomas Hobbes who was the first modern philosopher to introduce such an idea regarding the relationship between the people and the state. Supporting the theory, he stated that if each individual is to feel secure within a society, there needs to be some form of legislation created by the state ensuring that this is the case. On the other side sits John Locke who, as an advocate of the state of nature, believes that a society in which the people act based on their personal morals and their natural rights will lead to the greatest level of liberty. I willShow MoreRelatedEssay about Social Contract Theory1429 Words   |  6 Pagesthe following pages I will show how modern social contract theory, especially that of Thomas Hobbes and John Locke, grew into the divisive issue it is in contemporary political philosophy. I will do so by briefly unpacking the recent history of social contract theory and why it is a source of political divide today. Modern social contract theory can trace its roots to prominent thinkers Thomas Hobbes and John Locke. It is their thoughts on social contracts that lie at the center of the many spheresRead MoreThomas Hobbes And John Locke1659 Words   |  7 Pagesto by a majority. The following pages show how modern social contract theory especially that of Thomas Hobbes and John Locke, grew into the divisive issue it is in contemporary political philosophy. Modern social contract theory can trace its roots to prominent thinkers Thomas Hobbes and John Locke. It is their thoughts on social contracts that lie at the center of the many spheres we are a part of. For Hobbes and Locke, social contract theory sought to analyze the relationship between rulers andRead MoreUtilitarianism And Social Contract Theory1476 Words   |  6 PagesMichelle VanDeren Moral and Political Philosophy June 11, 2016 Reflection Paper Utilitarianism and Social Contract Theory Part I: Utilitarianism in the Work Place While managing a law firm over the past 13 years one of the most consistent issues to deal with is office attire. We have hired numerous employees ranging from 20-30 years of age whose attire did not project a professional appearance. Some of the employees often wore jeans or shirts that clearly showed their tattoos or were too revealingRead MoreWeaknesses Of Social Contract Theory928 Words   |  4 PagesSocial Contract theory is the idea that in the beginning people lived in the state of nature with no government and laws to regulate them. In order to overcome the issues involved in the state of nature, people entered into agreements to protect themselves and their properties. They did this by uniting, rescinding certain rights under the state of nature, and pledging themselves to an authority that will guarantee certain protections. They all agree to live together under those laws and create aRead MoreAnalysis Of John Stuart Mill s Veil Of Ignorance And The Classic Social Con tract Theory Essay1399 Words   |  6 Pagesprompt one of the week three Justice Theory essay assignment, and yields an evaluation through considering various internal and external materials from weeks one through three. Accordingly, the organization of this exploration concentrates on three areas of focus. First, this paper seeks to explain how the modern social contract theorist, John Rawls’, attempts to enhance the classic utilitarian views of John Stuart Mill, as well as the classic social contract theories of Thomas Hobbes and Jean JacquesRead MoreSocial Contract Theory In Thomas Hobbess The Leviathan1272 Words   |  6 PagesIn light of political philosophy, and more specifically contract theory, there is one philosophy that is undoubtedly inferior to the rest. This happens to be Thomas Hobbes’s social contract theory as articulated in his book The Leviathan. There are many conceptual errors in Hobbes’s theory, but I will first present his theory and t hen highlight two major issues. The first issue being that his state of nature is irrationally portrayed and his assumptions of apolitical groups are inaccurate- as examplesRead MoreThe Four Theories of Government Essay669 Words   |  3 Pagesfourdifferent theories of governments, the force theory, the evolutionary rule, the divine right theory, and social contract theory. The Force theory was when one person or group of people gained control of the area and forced others to submit to their rule. The evolutionary Rule basically said that the states would develop naturally out of family clans, tribes, ect. The divine right theory said that the state was created by God and God gave people of royal birth the â€Å"divine right to rule†. The social contractRead MoreClassical Theory of Criminology Essay1523 Words   |  7 Pagescertain ways in different situations (Hagan, 2010). Through understanding the reasons or why an individual commits a crime, one can come up with ways to prevent and control crime or rehabilitate criminals. There exist a large number of criminology theories, some link crime to an individual or person; they believe a person weighs the cons and pros and makes a conscious decision on whether to commit or not commit a felony. Others see the society as having a duty to make sure that its members do not engageRead MoreNormative Ethics: Society Determines What Moral and Ethical Act or Action is Correct and Acceptable1446 Words   |  6 Pagesacceptable. Normative ethics embraces the philosophical theory of a normal sense of morals and principles that would be proper and acknowledged as positive and good. The prompt also refers to the â€Å"oppressed† fighting a futile or ineffective battle for a mutual ethical relationship. This struggle has the potential to be resolved with culturally diverse and ethnically different populations including blacks and whites adopting the concept and theory of normative ethics, and living life tog ether recognizingRead MoreThe Strength Of Rawls Social Contract Theory1160 Words   |  5 PagesThe strength of Rawls’ Social Contract Theory is most obvious when compared with other ethical theories. In my discussion with Professor Hill, it was made apparent to me that I should focus on the main concepts we have discussed in this unit: empathy, rationality, and fallibility. One theory that is easily comparable is Ethical Egoism. Ethical Egoism claims that every action committed by human beings must be out of self-interest. Anything done for another individual is considered unethical for an