Chapter 6: The Social Contract Theory
6.1 Hobbes’s Argument
o Where does morality come from? – if we cannot appeal to God, natural
purposes or altruism = what can we base morality on?
o Thomas Hobbes (British philosopher from 17th century)
o Tried to show that morality does not depend on any of those things.
o Morality = the solution to a practical problem that arises for self-
interested human-beings.
o We all want to live as well as possible – to do so we need a peaceful,
cooperative social order AND we need to follow rules
Moral rules
State of Nature:
o Hobbes: What if there were no way to enforce social rules?
o No government institutions (police or courts)
o No laws
o We would be free to do as we wish
o This would result in = THE STATE OF NATURE
o Horrible
o No industry
o No account of time
o No art, letters
o No society
o Man would live in constant fear and danger of a violent death
o Man’s life = poor, nasty, alone, short
The following 4 basic facts about the human condition would cause the State
of Nature:
1. Equality of need
o All humans need the same basic things in order to survive
o Food, water, clothing, shelter, etc.
o We are all essentially alike
2. Scarcity
o Things we need do not come in abundance
o Work hard to produce essential supplies
o Sometimes not enough for everyone
3. The essential equality of human power
o No one can just take what they want
o Even the toughest or smartest can be taken down by those less strong
(if they act together)
4. Limited altruism
o We cannot rely on the goodwill of others
o Must prevail by our own strength
o People care mostly about themselves, can trust that they would step
aside when their interests conflict with ours
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6.1 Hobbes’s Argument
o Where does morality come from? – if we cannot appeal to God, natural
purposes or altruism = what can we base morality on?
o Thomas Hobbes (British philosopher from 17th century)
o Tried to show that morality does not depend on any of those things.
o Morality = the solution to a practical problem that arises for self-
interested human-beings.
o We all want to live as well as possible – to do so we need a peaceful,
cooperative social order AND we need to follow rules
Moral rules
State of Nature:
o Hobbes: What if there were no way to enforce social rules?
o No government institutions (police or courts)
o No laws
o We would be free to do as we wish
o This would result in = THE STATE OF NATURE
o Horrible
o No industry
o No account of time
o No art, letters
o No society
o Man would live in constant fear and danger of a violent death
o Man’s life = poor, nasty, alone, short
The following 4 basic facts about the human condition would cause the State
of Nature:
1. Equality of need
o All humans need the same basic things in order to survive
o Food, water, clothing, shelter, etc.
o We are all essentially alike
2. Scarcity
o Things we need do not come in abundance
o Work hard to produce essential supplies
o Sometimes not enough for everyone
3. The essential equality of human power
o No one can just take what they want
o Even the toughest or smartest can be taken down by those less strong
(if they act together)
4. Limited altruism
o We cannot rely on the goodwill of others
o Must prevail by our own strength
o People care mostly about themselves, can trust that they would step
aside when their interests conflict with ours
1
