Module 10 - Social Contract Theory

Question 1

Social Contract Theory

Answer 1

ethical theory with social agreement as moral standard.
Bridge Statement: an act is right iff it is consistent with social agreement

Question 2

Philosophers who developed Social Contract Theory

Answer 2

most important: John Locke (1632-1704)
also: Plato (elements of SCT, he wrote about the refusal of his teacher (Socrates) to escape from jail even though he was put in prison unjustly)

Question 3

John Locke contributions

Answer 3

developed the Lockean Proviso and helped develop Social Contract Theory

Question 4

Social Contract Theory seeks to explain the origins of our _______ duties to each other

Answer 4

political

Question 5

Political duties are generated from _____ ______

Answer 5

political rights (a right always applies a corresponding duty of others to protect that right_

Question 6

Generally, the social contract involves people agreeing to obey the ________ in exchange for the general interest, common good, good consequences, etc

Answer 6

government

Question 7

The social contract facilitates the move from ______ (ethical theory) to _________ (ethical theory)

Answer 7

Egoism to utilitarianism. The social contract provides a way out of the Prisoner’s Dilemma

Question 8

Theoretical Criticism of Social Contract Theory

Answer 8

the making of the social contract; why are we obligated to follow the social contract if we do not agree to it?

Question 9

Practical Criticism of Social Contract Theory

Answer 9

the breaking of the social contract; who gets to decide if the contract is broken? If everyone decides this question individually, then we become moral egoists (and not conducive to common good/gen interest/good conseq anymore –>suspicions about democracy)

Question 10

The Lockean Proviso

Answer 10

[example of how social contract works]
everyone has the right to unclaimed property “at least where there is enough, and as good, left in common for others”
condition of the social contract as locke understood it; has been interpreted as to apply to any right (beyond property aquisition) –>everyone has the right to do whatever they want, as long as the exercise of that right does not stop others from doing the same

Question 11

Robert Nozick

Answer 11

American philosopher (1938-2001) gave the Lockean Proviso its name.
Proviso = condition listed in a contract

Question 12

Lockean Proviso and Prisoner’s Dilemma

Answer 12

the proviso prevents people from allowing their self interest to override the general interest