Phil 103 Social Contract Theory

Natural Law Theory and Thomas Aquinas

• Historical Context

  • Natural law theory peaked in the Middle Ages, particularly through Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274).

  • Influenced by Aristotle and Judeo-Christian ethics, combined with ideas from the Islamic world's translations of Greek texts.

• Aquinas' Contributions

  • Developed natural law as a mix of reason and human nature, stating that ethics arise from understanding the world's order.

  • Emphasized seven fundamental human goods or desires:

    • Life

    • Reproduction

    • Educating the youth

    • Seeking God

    • Social interaction

    • Engaging in social institutions

    • Avoiding ignorance

• Impact on Witchcraft

  • Prior to Aquinas, witchcraft was not officially prosecuted by the Church; Charlemagne deemed it legal.

  • Aquinas introduced notions that women were more susceptible to witchcraft due to perceived inferior rational capabilities derived from Aristotelian thought.

  • This led to witch hunts and increased persecution of women, inspired by Aquinas’ interpretation.

Transition to Social Contract Theory

• Historical Shifts

  • Significant historical events included the Protestant Reformation, the Spanish Inquisition, and wars such as the Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648).

  • These conflicts highlighted the need for societal agreement and stability, paving the way for social contract theories.

Thomas Hobbes and the State of Nature

• Hobbes' Perspective

  • Proposed that the ‘state of nature’ is a chaotic environment filled with war, where human life is described as "nasty, brutish, and short."

  • Introduced the social contract as a solution for societal order, proposing mutual agreements to maintain peace.

  • Stressed the importance of recognizing individuals' rights and the responsibilities to not infringe upon one another’s rights.

• Egoism in Hobbes' Theory

  • Often viewed as an egoist due to his focus on self-interest in avoiding conflict, though he recognizes the broader need for social cooperation.

John Locke's Developments in Social Contract Theory

• Locke's Contributions

  • Further refined the social contract idea, emphasizing the preservation of rights and liberty.

  • Advocated for religious tolerance and the separation of church and state, influenced by his experiences during religious conflicts.

• Balance of Rights

  • Proposed that individuals sacrifice some freedoms for the greater good and societal order, while still protecting their fundamental liberties.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau's Perspective

• Rousseau's Optimism About the State of Nature

  • Contrasted Hobbes by viewing the state of nature as peaceful and simple, corrupted by societal complexities.

  • Supported the idea that societal norms should facilitate mutual respect and protect individual rights.

• Motivations Behind Human Actions

  • Proposed that human actions are driven by two fundamental impulses:

    • Amour-propre (self-love)

    • Compassion or Pity (concern for others)

  • Suggested that genuine morality stems from rational deliberation rather than emotive responses.

Meta-ethics and Norms in Social Contract Theory

• Ethical Constructs

  • Social contract theory presents a framework where individuals imagine reasonable norms arising from a hypothetical state of nature.

  • Focuses on rationality and shared agreements to derive conceptions of ethics, emphasizing the importance of not imposing assumptions.

• Cross-Cultural Considerations

  • Highlights the challenge of differing moral norms across cultures and the complexities in establishing universally accepted principles.

Assignments and Next Steps

• Discussion Board Assignment

  • Students to apply the social contract theory framework to ethical dilemmas, such as the ethics of lying.

  • Encourage thinking through the lens of the theories proposed by Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau to explore truthfulness in social interactions.