Social Contract Theory: Thomas

Hobbes&

Utilitarian TheoryBy: Jessica Sensbach

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Social Contract Theory: Hobbes

Thomas Hobbes 1588-1679

Born in Wiltshire England April 5th

Lived during the English civil war 1642-1648

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State of Nature

According to Hobbes people are self-interested

Man’s natural state in nature is a state of war

“Life in the state of nature is solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.”

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Social Contract

Designed to maintain Social order

People give up some rights to an authority or government to receive social order through law

To avoid “ war of all against all” this contract is necessary to protect us from ourselves

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No Exceptions

http://www.examiner.com/x-27388-Long-Island-Crime-Examiner~y2009m11d21-Pop-Stars-Visit-to-Local-Mall-Ends-in-Riot

Even young girls are naturally self-interested over simple things

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Utilitarian Theory

Greatest good for the greatest number of people

Greatest happiness principle

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Utility

Jeremy Bentham 1748-1832"nature has placed mankind under the governance of two sovereign masters, pain and pleasure."

Punishment is necessary for deterrence

Punishment should fit crime

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Shortcomings of Utility

Is it okay to torture or sacrifice few for the happiness of many? Sometimes...

Death penalty

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/6727882.html

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Social Contract v. Utility

Designed to maintain social order

Both justify some type of punishment

People willing to give up something in order to enter the contract or utility

To some extent self-interested

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Hobbes Theory v. Bentham Theory

For Hobbes’s theory, people are self-interested no matter what

For Bentham, people are only as good as the good they bring for the majority

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Works CitedIep.utm.edu:Social Contract Theory. Retrieved November 19, 2009, from the Internet Encyclopedia of philosophy website. http://www.iep.utm.edu/soc-cont/#SH2a

Political Philosophy. Films Media Group, 0. Films On Demand. Web. 28 November 2009. <http://digital.films.com.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/play/EPB2KK>

Bentham, J. (2000 [1798]). "Jeremy Bentham,'A Utilitarian Theory of Punishment from "Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation (1789)." In R. C. Solomon & M. C. Murphy (Eds.), What Is Justice?: Classic and Contemporary Readings. (pp. 215-220). New York: Oxford University Press

Films for the Humanities and Sciences."Ethics: What is Right?" 2004. Online video clip. Arizona Universities Library Consortium. FMG Video On Demand. Accessed on 2 November 2009.  http://digital.films.com.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/play/DZTSSQ 

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