The Idea of a Social Contract
Thomas Hobbes: Leviathan (1651) Life in the State of Nature “Solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short” War of all against all Why? Radical freedom Psychological egoism Equality of needs Equality of abilities Scarcity
The Three Laws of Nature: The passions that incline men to peace, are fear of death; desire of such things as are necessary to commodious living; and a hope by their industry to obtain them. And reason suggesth convenient articles of peace, upon which men may be drawn to agreement. These articles, are they, which otherwise are called the Laws of Nature. How to escaping the State of Nature? Create a Sovereign Rules (minimally, “Don’t harm one another”) + Enforcement mechanism

The Prisoner’s Dilemma
You and Bob are arrested. Each of you is offered a deal to testify against the other for a reduced sentence. The deal: You confess & Bob confesses: 5 years You confess & Bob remain silent: 0 years You remain silent & Bob confesses: 20 years You & Bob both remain silent: 1 year The point: Individually pursue best interests → 3^rd best option Trust the other prisoner → 2^nd option
Morality as a solution to a Prisoner’s Dilemma-type Problem: Morality consists in the set of rules, governing how people are to treat one another, that rational people will agree to accept, for their mutual benefit, on the condition that others follow those rules as well. Some Advantages of the Social Contract Theory of Morals What moral rules are we bound to follow? How are these rules justified? Why is it reasonable for us to follow the moral rules? Under what circumstances are we allowed to break the rules? Does morality have an objective basis? The Problem of Civil Disobedience Difficulties for the Theory It is a historical fiction No duties to those outside of the contract