Social Contract: Thomas Hobbes and John Rawles

Thomas Hobbes: Human State of Nature

Nasty, Brutish, and short.

1) people are self interested

2) peope are rational: they will do what best meets their interest

3) people conflict over similar needs (constant conflict)

4) people are equal

State of nature

humanity without society

Laws of Nature: Hobbes

1. seek peace/cooperate

2. have to agree to rules that all parties find agreeable (SOCIAL CONTRACT)

3. need an impartial way of enforcing agreement

John Rawls social contract theory

Theory of Justice

Rawles: the only obsticle to determining best dsittributive justice is

bias.

Rawles: people will never agree on

what the best distribution is. Thus reframe question

Justice is fairness

If everyone agrees to something, it is fair. Since we all agree on the principals of justice, Justice is fairness via social contract

Rawles Hypothetical:

A group of people in the original position under a veil of ignorance determine government

Why use Rawle’s hypothetical?

Use as a standard to judge society on

Rawles: Human state of nature

1. people are minimally/economically rational: choose best means to their desried end

2. people are free

3. people are mutually disinterested

The original position:

the point of view one takes on the dsitribution of justice when deciding government assuming people are rational, free, and mustually disinterested

(Veil of ignorance)

Veil of ignorance

a component of the original position where a person doesn’t know where they wil be places in a system

• 1) removes bias (don’t know socioeconomic status)

• 2) Ignore any knowledge of one’s natural assets

Theory of Justice

1) Made in original position

2) Which principals would we choose from the original position

• Equal Liberty Principal

• The Difference Principal

Laws of convention

justice in specifics

Laws of nature

by nature just

Equal Liberty Principal

• rights are equally distributed

• people get as a many compatable rights as possible (your rights cant interfere with someone elses)

The Difference Principal

Inequality socioeconomically is best so long as the principle of Redress is in order

• economic growth is open to all

• Inequality makes everyone better off

Principle of Redress

Ensure that the worst off have the opportunity to equally participates and level the playing field for those whose inequalities are caused by birth.

• undeserved inequalities hsould be redressed

• responds to the failure of main two principals

Principals are serially ordered

principle of equal liberty is more important/tkaes precedent over difference principle