Overview
This lecture introduces Thomas Hobbes’ social contract theory, examining its explanation for the origins of moral and legal rules, its strengths, and key criticisms.
Hobbes’ Social Contract Theory
- Hobbes describes the "state of nature" as a life without rules: solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.
- In this state, people compete for resources and live in constant fear and violence.
- Social contract theory argues people collectively agree to moral and legal rules to escape the state of nature.
- By agreeing not to harm others, individuals gain the benefits of civilization, safety, and prosperity.
- Morality originates from self-interest; people follow rules because it ultimately benefits them.
- Social contract is both invented (the rules) and discovered (which rules work best).
Judging Moral Practices with Social Contract Theory
- Social contract theory helps evaluate moral rules by their ability to promote human flourishing.
- Civil disobedience can be justified when some groups do not receive the contract’s benefits (e.g., racial segregation and MLK's protests).
- The theory provides a rational justification for obeying or disobeying laws based on reciprocal social benefits.
Criticisms of Social Contract Theory
- It reduces morality to self-interest and may not explain purely altruistic actions.
- John Locke argued that moral rights exist before governments and are based on natural law, not contracts.
- The theory may weaken moral motivation since actions are moral only if they serve self-interest.
- Hobbes’ view of human nature as selfish is contested; Rousseau and others see humans as naturally altruistic.
- Feminist critiques claim the theory fails to address care, dependence, and altruism as foundations of morality.
- The theory struggles to explain moral obligations toward those unable to consent (infants, impaired people, animals, future generations).
- Some criticize the absence of an actual contract, but it is intended as a conceptual framework.
Key Terms & Definitions
- State of Nature — A hypothetical condition without laws or moral rules, marked by violence and fear.
- Social Contract — An implicit agreement among individuals to form rules and institutions for mutual benefit.
- Egoism — The ethical theory that self-interest is the foundation of morality.
- Civil Disobedience — The nonviolent breaking of laws to protest injustice, justified under social contract if the contract’s benefits are denied.
- Natural Law — Moral rights and duties existing independently of governments or contracts.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Reflect on whether your own morality is best explained by self-interest or broader concerns.
- Consider discussion questions: Can all morality be reduced to self-interest? Who is left out of the social contract?
- Read about ethical egoism and John Locke’s theories for further context.