Social Contract Theory and the Nature of Society, Rules and Morality

Social Contract Theory and Social Nature, Regularity and Moral Society Contract theory is a philosophy on the nature of morality and the origin of society. The believers believe that 'social organization depends on contracts or contracts between people' (Lease, 533). Sophist first described this concept in detail, stating that society does not occur naturally, but it is the result of an agreement (Reese 533). Plato said that republic, society was created to meet human needs (encyclopedia 1).

According to social contract theory, people live together in society according to agreements establishing rules of moral and political behavior. Some people think that if we live according to a social contract we can not live morally through our own choices. Over the centuries philosophers tried to describe ideal social contracts as early as Socrates and explained how existing social contracts evolved. Philosopher Stewart Rechels believes that morality is a set of rules for reasonable people to accept actions.

Although the theory of social contract is ironic, it is a realistic view of human nature, there are no rules, rules are not enforced. Sometimes when society is confused due to a devastating incident, examples of society of its natural state may be seen. This may happen in war and natural disasters in Rwanda, like what happened in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. In both cases, part of society has moved from the country of rule of law to the community of nature. Rules and laws are forgotten, and brute force decides who will survive. Unfortunately, society will be in a natural state if there is no law, regulation, or anyone to force them.

Regarding Hobbes' moral theory, two features stand out. First of all, morality is not a permanent feature of the essence of things, it is simply the creation of a social contract. In the state of nature there is no place for the concept of good and evil, justice and injustice The moral concept created by the law of nature is a contractual agreement. In this respect, Hobbes is a moral skepticist because he believes that the moral principle is not independent of the objective grounds of human society.