Social Contract Theory. Utilitarianism. Drawing by David Shrigley

Transcription

1 Social Contract Theory & Utilitarianism Drawing by David Shrigley

2 Social Contract Theory The passions that incline men to peace, are fear of death; desire of such things as are necessary to commodious living; and a hope by their industry to obtain them. And reason suggests convenient articles of peace, upon which men may be drawn to agreements. These articles.are called laws of natures. Thomas Hobbes ( ), from Leviathan (1651)

3 Social Contract Theory Hobbes held that morality is not founded religion or culture. He is a kind of egoist -- how far is a matter of dispute. His basic position is that: morality consists in the set of rules, governing behavior, that rational people will accept, on the condition that others will accept them as well. (p.85)

4 Social Contract Theory Hobbes called such anarchy "the state of nature". He famously said life for a human being in a state of nature would be solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short. (p.83)

5 Social Contract Theory For Hobbes, what produces such grim prospects in the state of nature are four facts about human life and nature. 1. We all have equality of need. 2. There is scarcity of resources. 3. Humans are basically equal in power. 4. Humans have only limited altruism.

6 Social Contract Theory Given these facts about human life and nature, Hobbes held that we must find a way to cooperate, else we will suffer and die. To escape the state of nature we form social contracts. Thus morality is basically founded on such contracts or rules. Morality consists in the set of rules, governing behavior, that rational people will accept, on the condition that others accept them as well. (p.83)

7 Prisoner s Dilemma Tell Don't Tell Tell 5, 5 0, 10 Don t Tell 10, 0 1, 1

8 Prisoner s Dilemma Scenario: A Nuclear Arms Race Don t Build Build Bombs Bombs Don t Build Bombs 1, 1 1, 6 Build 6, 1 6, 6 Bombs

9 Prisoner s Dilemma Scenario: Environmental Resources Don t Fish Fish Don't 6, 6 1, 10 Fish Fish 10, 1 1, 1 Let numbers stand for millions of dollars.

10 Prisoner s Dilemma Scenario: A Culture of Cool Consumerism Bug SUV Bug 3, 3 3, 7 SUV 7, 3 7, 7 Let numbers stand for units of coolness as well as increasing gas prices and tons of CO2 emitted into the air and water.

11 Prisoner s Dilemma Scenario: A Culture of Cool Consumerism SUV Hummer SUV 7, 7 7, 10 Hummer 10, 7 10, 10 Let numbers stand for units of coolness as well as increasing gas price and tons of CO2 emitted into the air and water.

12 Prisoner s Dilemma and Big Bend Big Bend on a good day and on a bad day. For more info go to:

13 Lessons from The Prisoner s Dilemma 1. People s interests are affected not only by what they do but by what other people do as well. 2. Everyone will end up worse off if they pursue (like a shortsighted egoist) their own individual interests than if they pursue mutually beneficial interests. 3. Social contracts, if they are to work, must be enforceable. 4. An individual who does not hold up the social contract is a free rider and will be met with condemnation.

14 Some Advantages of Social Contract Theory 1. It suggests what moral rules we should follow and how those rules are justified. Rules are justified if they promote living harmoniously together for mutual benefit. Question: How do you think a Social Contractarian would view laws opposed to same-sex marriage? Marijuana legalization? 2. It tells us why we should follow the rules: mutual benefit and fear of punishment.

15 Some Advantages of Social Contract Theory 3. It indicates when it is rational to break the rules: namely, we agree to obey the rules on the condition that others obey them as well. Consider Martin Luther King s reasons for non-violently breaking the laws. (pp.91-94) Or consider the current wage gap between men and women

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17 Difficulties for Social Contract Theory 1. Does Social Contract Theory really account for our ordinary sense of morality? It seems to simply define goodness in egoistic terms -- getting what we want -- and then asks us to be strategic about how we achieve our goals. 2. What about vulnerable humans and non-human animals? How are they accounted for under social contract theory? After all, they can t make contracts or retaliate against us.

18 Utilitarianism

19 The Revolution In Ethics Rachels notes that the late 18th and 19th centuries witnessed an astonishing series of upheavals. p.98 French Revolution American Declaration of Independence 1776 American Civil War All the while the West was experiencing an industrial revolution in manufacturing, agriculture, and transportation.

20 The Revolution In Ethics David Hume Scottish philosopher and historian. Jeremy Bentham English jurist and philosopher.

21 The Revolution In Ethics John Stuart Mill British philosopher and economist. Henry Sidgwick English philosopher.

22 The Revolution In Ethics Peter Singer present Australian Philosopher

23 The Principle of Utility By the Principle of Utility is meant that principle which approves or disapproves of every action whatsoever, according to the tendency which it appears to have to augment or diminish the happiness of the party whose interest is in question Bentham - The Principles of Morals and Legislation In other words, the ethical thing to do is to act in such a way that one produces the greatest amount of happiness and causes the least amount of pain possible.

24 The Principle of Utility It is important to emphasize that utilitarians tend to focus on aggregate happiness and not distribution. So consider two acts: Action # People Affected Utility Per Person Total Act Act For the utilitarian, the first act would be the right act since it promotes the most overall happiness or utility.

25 Utilitarianism & Social Reform The basic idea of utilitarianism might seem obvious and not very revolutionary; but the utilitarians were (and are) great social reformers in such areas as: Racial equality Sexual equality Aiding the poor Animal welfare Utilitarianism is a simple sounding ethical principle with radical consequences,