Chapter 11

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• Chapter 11possible test questions
• (20 points) Explain the hypothetical situation
  for Hobbes that forces man into a social contract
  by outlining its circumstances and outcomes.
• (20 points) What is the prisoners dilemma (not
  the specific story from which it gets its name,
  but its general features)? What is meant by the
  claim that the point of morality is to solve
  problems that have the form of the prisoners
  dilemma?
• (10 points) What, according to social-contract
  theory, are the rules of morality?
• (10 points) What are two considerations in
  support of the social-contract theory of
  morality?

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Hobbes Social Contract TheorySection 11.1

• Ideas on Social Contract Theory can be found in
  his text entitled Leviathan published in 1651
• One way to arrive at a moral social-contractarian
  solution to the problem of self-interest. (others
  include prisoners dilemma game)

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Hypothetical State of Nature Social Contract

• What purpose does State of Nature serve?
  --Examine mans inconveniences and moral
  rules he implements to deal with them
• How is Hypothetical State of Nature formulated?
  
  --Remove all laws and law
  enforcement

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• W/ no laws what are mans inconveniences?
• 1 Equality of need- All need food, H2O
• 2 Scarcity- Lack of goods for everyone
• 3 Essential equality of human power- Nobody
  is superior to any other. What one lacks in
  physical strength can be made up in mental
  strength and vice versa
• 4 Limited altruism- People are at root
  self-interested beings. Psychological Egoism

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• What results from mans four conditions?
• --A never-ending competition among everyone
  to hoard all goods to survive. A War of all
  against all
• To escape S.O.N. form Social Contract
• --A mutual agreement among all to not harm
  others and keep promises Rules governing
  relations
• --A mutual agreement among all to be placed
  under sovereign authority/ government The
  Enforcer of these rules

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Prisoners DilemmaSection 11.2

• Confess II Don
  t confess
• C
• I
• D
• 1 I free, II 10yr 2 I II
  1yr
• 3 I II 5yr 4 I
  10yr, II free

3, 3 1, 4
4, 1 2, 2
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Rationale to always confess (self-interest)

• Either II will confess or he wont
• Suppose II confesses. Then, if you confess youll
  get 5 yrs (3), whereas if you dont confess
  youll get 10yrs (4). Thus, if II confesses so
  should you. 3 better than 4
• Suppose II doesnt confess. Then, if you confess
  youll go free (1), whereas if you dont confess
  youll get 1yr (2). Thus, if II doesnt confess
  you should. 1 better than 2

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Rationale to cooperate not be self-interested

• 1st Catch- II has same thoughts as you and
  realizes its in his best interest to also always
  confess. Thus, both will get 5yrs
• 2nd Catch- PD and similar situations arent 1
  time but repeat in life. Thus, to always be
  self-interested youll lose confederates a good
  life
• Solution- Therefore, to ensure best possible
  situation (least yrs in jail) and to keep
  confederates in order to get things done,all
  should mutually cooperate under enforceable moral
  rules

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Real-life prisoner dilemma situations

• Commuting- Each gets to work faster by driving
  car than by bus. But each would get to/from work
  faster if all agree to take bus
• Studying for test graded on pre-set curve- Can
  study a lot or little. If all study a lot then
  everyones efforts cancel each other out and all
  get same grade so unnecessary extra work. Better
  if all agree to study a little, same grades as if
  study a lot save time on work

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Advantages of Social-Contract MoralsSection 11.3

• 1. Straightforward account of moral rules- rules
  necessary for peaceful/cooperative living. If
  dont contribute to this end not part of morality
• 2. Clear account why one ought to be moral- moral
  rules beneficial to all (myself others)
• 3. Not demanding- obligation to follow rules
  ceases once others stop following them (wise to
  cease or else a sucker) or when really costly to
  oneself
• 4. No objective/subjective explanation needed-
  morality is matter of rational rules practical
  aim

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Problem/Justification of Civil DisobedienceSectio
n 11.4

• Utilitarian argument- civil disobedience
  justified as last resort for beneficial reform.
  Unlawful acts bad but end justifies means
• Social Contract argument- as members of social
  contract each gains benefits (peaceful living) in
  exchange for burdens (not pursuing
  self-interest). But when co-operating members
  neglected benefits then they can abstain from law
  until receive them

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Difficulties for Social ContractSection 11.5

• 1. Historical idea of social contract is a
  fiction. Thus, since mutual agreement never
  happened and even if it did I never participated
  in it, I dont have to abide by it
• Response- social contract is implicit. By
  accepting its benefits we agree to its terms
• 2. Theory implies we have no obligation towards
  beings with whom we have no need or possibility
  of cooperating such as animals the
  mentally/physically disabled