Lecture on Contractarianism and Hobbes' Philosophy

Introduction

• Imagining a world without rules.
• Thomas Hobbes' view: without rules, life would be chaotic and undesirable.

Hobbes' State of Nature

• Described life without rules as "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short."
• Without security, freedom becomes problematic.
• Biggest bullies dominate, but even they lack security.
• Rational people prefer some restrictions in exchange for security.

Morality According to Hobbes

• Hobbes: Morality isn't innate or divine, but a product of rational cooperation.
• Example: Avocado and mango tree trade without theft.
• Cooperation leads to security and mutual benefit.

Contractarianism

• Right acts follow free, rational agreements.
• Contracts improve life by exchanging some freedom for cooperation benefits.
• Implicit vs. explicit contracts.
  • Example: Following laws without explicit agreement vs. explicit citizenship contracts.

Rights and Obligations

• Benefits from societal systems come with obligations.
• Paying taxes, serving jury duty, and accepting punishments are part of the contract.

Prisoner's Dilemma

• Introduced by Albert W. Tucker.
• Demonstrates the complexities of cooperation and trust.
• Rational decision-making sometimes leads to less optimal outcomes.

Trust and Defection

• Trust is key in cooperation.
• Defection occurs often among strangers, less so among acquaintances due to social costs.
• Social trust underpins society.

Conditions for Valid Contracts

• Contractors must be free and better off within the contract.
• Invalidates oppressive systems like slavery.

Morality and Contractarianism

• Morality is created by agreement, not inherently real.
• Morality can change when agreements change.
• High standards for fulfilling chosen obligations.

Conclusion

• Next topic: Virtue theory.
• Summary: Discussion on contractarianism, Hobbes' state of nature, implicit and explicit contracts, and the Prisoner's Dilemma.

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