Social Contract Theories
Soazig Le Bihan - University of
Montana
1
Introduction
Reminder on Kant: What is morality?
Social Contract Theories:
Foundation of morality
Legitimacy of government in the modern Western
world
Hobbes, Kant and Rawls

Hobbes: Morality based on self-interest!
2
Outline
From the state of nature to the social contract
Morality and self-interest: the prisoner’s dilemma
Advantages
Objections and Answers
Conclusion
3
The State of Nature
State of nature = state of war
``of every man against every man”
Why?
1- equality of need
2- scarcity of resources
3- equality of power
4- self interest
Why is it bad?
“and the life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short”

The state of nature is to be avoided!
4
The Social Contract
Foundation: Rational, self-interested people
Components:
1st law: each one protects oneself
2nd law: give up the liberties when the others do too, in
order to guarantee peaceful social living
3: Establishment of government necessary – receives the
liberties that the citizen have given up

Entering the Social Contract is the best strategy to
satisfy our own interests
 Is it true?
5
Outline
From the state of nature to the social contract
Morality and self-interest: the prisoner’s dilemma
Advantages
Objections and Answers
Conclusion
6
The Prisoner Dilemma:
(Flood and Mesmer 1950)
Game Theory
The game:
Jones accuses
S.
Jones does not
Smith accuses
J.
5/5
10/0
Smith does not
0/10
1/1
Rational answer for each prisoner: To accuse the other
Result: worse for both than cooperation

Cooperation is the best rational choice in cases of
inter-related interests
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Outline
From the state of nature to the social contract
Morality and self-interest: the prisoner’s dilemma
Advantages
Objections and Answers
Conclusion
8
Advantages of Social Contract Theories
1. Foundation of moral social behavior: where the rules
come from and why we follow them
2. Bounds on morality:
Private vs public life
Civil disobedience
No moral favors required

SCT restrict morality to the necessary rules for
peaceful social living
 Foundation of Democratic Governement
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Outline
From the state of nature to the social contract
Morality and self-interest: the prisoner’s dilemma
Advantages
Objections and Answers
Conclusion
10
Objections and Answers
Objections
Answers
Egoism
(Hobbes)
Impartiality
(Kant, Rawls)
Actual Contract
(Hobbes)
Implicit Contract
(Kant, Rawls)
No responsibility
outside of contract
(Hobbes)
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Outline
From the state of nature to the social contract
Morality and self-interest: the prisoner’s dilemma
Advantages
Objections and Answers
Conclusion
12
Social Contract Theories
Conclusion
Deficient as a foundation of morality
Moral behavior is more than rational behavior between
rational agents
Successful as a foundation of political authority
Reminder: legal vs moral
Obligations and Rights of citizens in modern democracies
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