advantages and disadvantages of social contract theory advantages and disadvantages of social contract theory
Some writings had also influenced the start of the American and French revolutions. This state of nature was the conditions in which we lived before there were any political governments to rule over us and it described what societies would be like if we had no government at all. There are at least two ways to understand psychological egoism. What Are the Strengths and Weaknesses of Social Contract Theory Essay, n.d. https://studentshare.org/social-science/1678533-what-are-the-strengths-and-weaknesses-of-social-contract-theory. Such writings have encouraged revolutions such as: the English, American and French revolution. This means that the individuals give up some of their rights to a government in order to receive security and social order. Therefore, following Lockes argument, one would suggest that consent is recognition of the symbiotic relationship that exists between a state and those people subjected to it (Strauss, 1958). Thus one could say that the existence of a sovereign, authority or the state is a result of the social contract. Disadvantages Of Social Contract Theory - 834 Words | Cram New York Institute of Technology, Vancouver (MS-Energy Management); Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo, BC (BA-Philosophy). A philosopher Stuart Rachels suggests that, morality is the set of rules governing behavior that rational people accept, on the condition that others accept them too. The social contract theory is essentially a theory of morality as well as that of the state. But for me that is not a strong reason to do not believe in the Social contract I strongly believe in this theory because this is what makes a civil society with justice and morality. I will focus my analysis on how the social contract states that we must give up our individual rights in order to obtain equality and security. Thus, Hobbess sample (young European males) from which he inferred conclusions about human nature was hardly representative of humans in general, and was unrepresentative as to relevant properties (sex, geographical and cultural locale, and age). To arrive at a such a contract, Rawls proposes a thought experiment called the veil of ignorance. The people agree to abide by the laws and regulations set by the government, which ensures that everyone lives in harmony and peace. Through the social contract people sought protection for themselves as well as their property. First, you must all agree on the rules though no one knows what his abilities, characteristics, race, gender, etc., will be in life. This can soon lead to a state of war in which we are constantly disposed to harm others to achieve our goals. However, please note that the content provided on our website is for informational and educational purposes only, and should not be considered as professional financial or legal advice. [Solved] What are advantages and disadvantages to social contract They argue that it is impossible to have a just and fair government when there is such a huge economic disparity between the rich and the poor. There is significant disconfirming evidence for psychological egoism. The first is an initial pre-political situation called a "state of nature" by the modern philosophers and the "original position" by Rawls, the most significant contemporary exponent of social contract theory. The consent of the people who it governs is necessary for both the legitimacy as well as the authority that the state needs to enforce its role within society (Dugger and Sherman, 1994). In this essay I will compare the opinions given by each philosopher regarding their understanding of the state and the law. Essentially what Hobbes is saying by all of this is that human beings are not fit to govern themselves. My motivation may be some of each: helping others and simultaneously helping myself. Copyright 2023 IPL.org All rights reserved. In essence, even though Socrates is offered the opportunity to, Hobbes developed the social contract theory, which is the idea that civilians give up some of their freedom and liberty for protection from the leader. Further, social contracts exclude those in different societies and countries and they exclude animals all to whom we therefore have no contractual, and thus no moral obligations. The flaw goes deep, affecting their adequacy as accounts of human justice more generally (98). Allows everyone to satisfy their self-interest without making others worse off; Justifies basic moral rules; Outline the key disadvantages of Social Contract Theory. However, many people recognize compassion as a moral principle not just a preference leaving social contract theory as an inadequate moral theory. Liberalism is defined as a general philosophy where the value of liberty must be measured as the highest political good in a society. Over the centuries, philosophers as far . So, in this state of war if a person was to possess a beautiful house or property, and had all the comforts, luxuries, and amenities to lead a wonderful life; others could come and harm him and deprive him of his fruit of labor, life, and liberty. Advantages of Social Contract Theory include that it instills a sense of civic duty among the individual in relation to society as a whole, that it. Social contract theory is another descriptive theory about society and the relationship between rules and laws, and why society needs them. Aside from Hobbess assertion that humans are by nature egoists with no innate morality, social contract theory entails additional assumptions as defined by Waller (141142). There is only constant fear of violence and death, and hence the life of man will be solitary, poor, brutal, nasty, and short as Hobbes mentions. The government is not accountable to the people in the same way that the people are accountable to the government. Edubirdie. Thomas Hobbes creates a clear idea of the social contract theory in which the social contract is a collective agreement where everyone in the state of nature comes together and sacrifices all their liberty in return to security. The Pros And Cons Of Social Contract Social contract denotes that a government or sovereign body exists only to serve the will of the people because the people are the source of political power that is enjoyed by the entity. One observes that Enlightenment philosophers operated on the notion that the existing social and political orders could not withstand critical scrutiny and were rooted in religious myth and mystery and founded on vague cultures. should remember, that this work was alredy submitted once by a student who originally wrote it. After Kant, the idea largely fell into disrepute until it was resurrected by John Rawls. Rousseaus Social Contract: A Critical Response The four ways individuals can, Social contract denotes that a government or sovereign body exists only to serve the will of the people because the people are the source of political power that is enjoyed by the entity. Altruism, therefore, does not exist; every apparent selfless act is ultimately performed to make the actor feel good. It is a popular opinion that Rousseaus social contract theory was ahead of its time. When, gradually the society started growing, the Divine/ Supreme power was vested the authority in certain chosen humans which came to be known as Kings. Another view of psychological egoism is that although it may be possible for us to act selflessly (unlike per the previous analysis), it is unnatural for us to do so. In order to maintain a well ordered society the collective will must be present. Finally, psychological egoism seems to entail a fallacious false dilemma. Since the beginning of the modern age, governments and states have existed in order to maintain moral law. For example a small population would likely be nomadic and rely on hunting and gathering for sustenance. However, because Hobbes claims that people can be coerced or incentivized to act against their perceived self-interest by the sovereign and by their social contract obligations, he seems to acknowledge that non-egoistic behaviour is possible (albeit not natural). However as time went on, it brought changes that humanity would have to deal with. Philosophers dissected on the notion that existing social and political order would not withstand critical observation and examination which were put into a world with mysteries, myths, and various phenomenons. When comparing the two different accounts of English philosophers Thomas Hobbes and John Locke we must take into consideration a number of things such as the age in which they lived and the time in which they produced their philosophical writings. The theory is of the view that individuals' moral and political views depend on an agreement or a contract between them to establish a society. Book. Locke (in the second of the Two Treatises of Government, 1690) differed from Hobbes insofar as he conceived of the state of nature not as a condition of complete license but rather as a state in which humans, though free, equal, and independent, are obliged under the law of nature to respect each others rights to life, liberty, and property. In doing this people lost some of their rights and freedoms. Hobbes brings down this concept in his world famous book, Leviathan. In this " Social Contract Theory, Hobbes, as well as other political . We may choose to treat such outsiders with respect and compassion, but we have no moral duty to do so. Hobbes makes an empirical claim that humans are psychological egoists and there are no moral laws in a state of nature. It is an empty claim, because, per Waller, nothing could count as an unselfish act, since every purposeful act has some motivation, and the egoist is redefining all motivations as selfish.
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