Contract Theory and the Self-Interest in Establishing Political Society, Assignments of Ethics

Download Contract Theory and the Self-Interest in Establishing Political Society and more Assignments Ethics in PDF only on Docsity! Phil 100A Section Handout 9 I. The Question What moral justification is there for political society (i.e. for having an arrangement where some members of the society have authority over other members)? Four possible answers (not exhaustive): 1. (Anarchists) There is no moral justification for political society. 2. (Aristotle) We are by nature social beings, and so humans being part of a political society is part of the natural order. 3. (Utilitarian/Mill) It is expedient to establish a political society (establishes a mechanism for coercion in accordance with the harm principle). 4. (Contract Theory) It is in our self-interest to establish a political society. II. Establishment of Political Society According to Contract Theory Why is it in our self-interest to establish a political society? To answer this question, we must contrast life w/o government (life in the state of nature) with life with government. 1. The State of Nature: According to Hobbes: In the state of Nature: • There are no laws or government. • There are no rules of morality. • Everyone has unlimited autonomy. • Everyone should do everything in their power to get what they want (even at the expense of others). In summary, in the state of nature “the life of man [is] solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.”