State of Nature

No rules, no obligations, no right/wrong, a virtual free for all in which each person relies on him or herself only. 

Constant interruptions in the enjoyment of our freedom.

ie: Lord of the Flies, 2 yr olds at playground w/o supervision, prison with no guards.

Social Contract

The need for rules stems from the fact that there are numerous actors doing the same thing with the potential for harm when they bump into one another, physically or metaphorically. 

So we follow rules bc its in our best interest to do so.  We have to agree to follow the rules which are necessary in order for those activites to even exist bc the vast majority of public activities depend on the agreement of participants to generally follow a set of rules.

1st principle: Group activites req corrdination and that coordination can only be achieved if each player agrees to follow certain rules.

2nd principle: Members of society will follow the rules necessary for it to exist bc its in their interest to do so. 

ie: Driving, Basketball game, Boarding a plane.

Implications for morality

of group activities

We follow rules bc its in our best interest to do so. We have to agree to follow the rules which are necessary in order for those activites to even exist bc the vast majority of public activities depend on the agreement of participants to generally follow a set of rules.

Moral impoverishment

Objection to social contract theory and its state of nature claim. Claims that some of us prefer to act right, are naturally altruistic, or consult reason before listening to inclinations.

"His faculties are exercised and developed, his entire soul elevated...transformed him from a stupid, limited animal into an intelligent being and a man." ~Rousseau

Sum it up: Since humans are naturally inclined to higher pleasures, we can presume that (possibly after trial and error) we would evolve to the civil effects of morality and law.

Feminist ethicists objection

Claim, in moral impoverishment, that relationships and the caring invloved therein are what morality is essentially all about.  States social contract theory begins with aggression and lack of relationships, and solves probs through self-interest contract with strangers.  Genuine care and  relationships which makeup human life, aka morality, is missing.

Transformation in society

"Transformed him from a stupid, limited animal into an intelligent being and a man." ~Rousseau

Potential incompleteness of theory

Found in several theories.  Incapable of guaranteeing a determinate answer.  The vast majority of cases give of cases give us a clear indication on the justifiability of specific moral rules...that they are necessary gives them force and legitimacy. 

Commonsensical nature of theory

Test for obligations

Test for validity of moral rules