Question

Contractarianism

(1) How would you characterize social contract theory or contractarianism?

(2) What is Hobbes' state of nature? Do you think that without a government we will descend into this state of nature?

(3) What do you think about the theory that actions are neither moral or immoral unless they have some bearing on others?

Answer 1

(1) How would you characterize social contract theory or contractarianism?

Social contract theory states that people are always self interested, primarily. A rational assessment of a best strategy that could help in maximizing their self interest provides them the path to act morally as well as ethically. This means that the individuals behave as per the hypothetical social contract. This is also referred to as Contractarianism.

(2) What is Hobbes' state of nature? Do you think that without a government we will descend into this state of nature?

Hobbes defines life in the state of nature as a nasty, brutish and short. He also describes sovereignty as the soul of the Leviathan. Hobbes believed that without the government to govern people, the sate of nature would only exist.

As per the past of mankind and the known evidences, the absence of government / leadership shall definitely pave way to the state of nature. Crimes shall no longer be crime and there shall be less hope for the weak to survive.

(3) What do you think about the theory that actions are neither moral nor immoral unless they have some bearing on others?

Actions are neither moral nor immoral unless they have some bearing on others, is true as the moral action is defined as the action that causes no torture, pain to another life form. If the life from is removed off from the equation, the need for moral cease to exist.