3.1 Social Contract Theories
Ideas on how individuals in a society come together and envision an ideal world have their roots in the philosophical writings of Epicurus (341–270 B.C.E.). He believed the goal of human life – which he declared as happiness – was based on the elimination of fear. This, he said, would leave people free to pursue the pleasures of life that humans are naturally drawn to. Although the creation of laws would bring some order to society, fear would once again be present in the form of potential punishments. Epicurus therefore argued that justice could only come from social contracts made between two (or more) prudent, honorable and just individuals who agree not to do harm to one another (Konstan, 2016). These contractual …show more content…
He agreed with Hobbes that humans are innately selfish and Rousseau that corruption was tempting, but rather than control these tendencies by way of religion, as was the norm of the time, Kant proposed a morality rooted in human intelligence and reason. This led to the development of his infamous concept of a categorical imperative where he held that people should “act only according to the maxim by which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law” (Kant, 2012). Contrary to hypothetical imperatives, which are derived from human desires, categorical imperatives are moral obligations derived from reason. This imperative relies on two principles: (1) Universality – the act shall apply to everyone equally in similar situations; and (2) Humanity – actions should treat others as ends in themselves, rather than pure means. For Kant, good actions are only those which are done out of good will, or in respect of a moral code, which Kant believed is formed through interactions of rational beings who understand that being good is ultimately good for …show more content…
Hobbes calls for the elimination of rights and consent to a social contract in the name of peace. Locke sacrifices personal liberty and consents to giving power from the people to the state in exchange for protection of inalienable rights. Rousseau’s social contract gives power equally to all members of society based on the idea of and consent to a communally held good will. And finally, Kant bases his idea of a social contract on individual consent to a universally applied moral code based on every person’s innate humanity and
Ideas on how individuals in a society come together and envision an ideal world have their roots in the philosophical writings of Epicurus (341–270 B.C.E.). He believed the goal of human life – which he declared as happiness – was based on the elimination of fear. This, he said, would leave people free to pursue the pleasures of life that humans are naturally drawn to. Although the creation of laws would bring some order to society, fear would once again be present in the form of potential punishments. Epicurus therefore argued that justice could only come from social contracts made between two (or more) prudent, honorable and just individuals who agree not to do harm to one another (Konstan, 2016). These contractual …show more content…
He agreed with Hobbes that humans are innately selfish and Rousseau that corruption was tempting, but rather than control these tendencies by way of religion, as was the norm of the time, Kant proposed a morality rooted in human intelligence and reason. This led to the development of his infamous concept of a categorical imperative where he held that people should “act only according to the maxim by which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law” (Kant, 2012). Contrary to hypothetical imperatives, which are derived from human desires, categorical imperatives are moral obligations derived from reason. This imperative relies on two principles: (1) Universality – the act shall apply to everyone equally in similar situations; and (2) Humanity – actions should treat others as ends in themselves, rather than pure means. For Kant, good actions are only those which are done out of good will, or in respect of a moral code, which Kant believed is formed through interactions of rational beings who understand that being good is ultimately good for …show more content…
Hobbes calls for the elimination of rights and consent to a social contract in the name of peace. Locke sacrifices personal liberty and consents to giving power from the people to the state in exchange for protection of inalienable rights. Rousseau’s social contract gives power equally to all members of society based on the idea of and consent to a communally held good will. And finally, Kant bases his idea of a social contract on individual consent to a universally applied moral code based on every person’s innate humanity and