The Strengths and Weaknesses of Social Contract Theory - Essay Example

Social Contract Theory Social contract theory increases the possibility that the need to improve social needs and various inherent constraints might provide the society with natural platform for morality. Although it may look like there major incentives that drives people towards the social anarchy, without an outside objective, the major source of morality is rooted into the social system through the existence and integration of people (Skyrms 2014). The need exists among the people to form a certain agreement or treat each other with respect and follow the basic rules that have been established by the society. This theory has both the strengths and weaknesses. One of the major strength of social contract theory is that it provides answers on why human beings should observe moral rules. It explains that these rules should be followed because they are beneficial to our existence since they play a significant in facilitating a harmonious social living. A society without rules is set to fail through anarchy. In many cases, such a society spends a lot of its time solving conflicts. When people living in the same society fails to understand each other and work together, it becomes to achieve a healthy relationship. As a result, each person works hard to bring each other down. Therefore, social contract theory explains why each person must ensure that moral guidelines are followed to the letter. Social contract theory provides a plausible answer on what moral rules that people should accept. It explains that we should accept rules that facilitate harmonious social living. Some of the rules that are set by our leaders are aimed at achieving their personal interests. However, according to this theory, we should accept rules that prohibit murder, assault, rape, and theft. These vices create divisions in the society. In addition, they encourage individualism which is not good for the growth of the society at large. Therefore, for the society to train the current generation on the importance of harmonious social living, the rules that impact the society positively should be encouraged by all means (Rousseau & Cole 2008). This aspect makes the theory to be strong especially when it comes to matters that affect the society at large. The social contract theory strives for inclusiveness. According to Thomas Hobbes, the authority needs to be rested on the hands of the people. He argues that the major strength of this theory is that it agitates that the powers by leaders are embedded on them by the people. Therefore, they have a moral responsibility of serving the people. In addition, they should ensure that the resources are equitably distributed among all people. Moreover, the people should be involved in all levels of governance. This means that any decision that will affect them should be discussed by all parties. This is to ensure that people are not left behind in the governance of their affairs (Kercher 2004). Many people have been molested and ignored by the leaders. As a result, poverty and inequality is one of the major factors that characterize the current society. However, according to this theory, leaders have a moral obligation of listening to people. Furthermore, they have a role of ensuring that they improve the welfare of these people. This aspect forms one of the strong pillars of this theory. Social contract is just a theoretical term. Therefore, one of the advantages of this theory is the fact that it is a framework which can be used by theorists to elaborate or understand the moral values in the society. This aspect has allowed theorists such as John Rawls to work and manipulate the theory for a certain society. Through the use of the theory, the theorists have influenced liberalism in different parts of the world (Rousseau 2014). Therefore, the theory acts as a pillar for arguing or supporting one’s position. Furthermore, it can be manipulated in order to achieve specific goals that are of great importance to the society at large. Social contract theory creates fairness. Many of the existing theories create frameworks that are fairer than the current society. This makes it hard to be implemented in solving the issues that are currently affecting the society. However, social contract theory poses great strength when it comes to addressing fairness. The fairness emanates from the fact that the social contract framework ensures that people work towards a society where no one could be harmed from inequality (Erckel 2009). The theory works effectively through stating a position that people should live in a society where more or less, people are equal to each other. The legitimation of the government forms the main and central advantage of social contract theory. The formation of this theory came about when the England stared the English Civil war. During that time, the monarchy of England was at war with the opposition. The idea behind this theory came about in order to make sure that the government could be agreed upon by all citizens in the country. This was to avoid civil war or any form of tyrannies. Therefore, the theory focuses on ensuring the government remains legitimate to its people. This is through providing the services to all citizens irrespective of their political affiliations (Riley 2013). This makes the theory to be unique and strong in comparison with other theories. Social contract theory captures a consensus which is sometimes built on explicit consent, tactic consent, or operates as a hypothetical account. It gains its strength on the fact that it considers the will of all as the correct will (Heywood 2000). Therefore, it advises the leaders that they must consider the will of the people in order to serve them diligently. Another major strength is enshrined in the elements of the theory. The first element of the theory is pre-political situation which is also called a “state of nature” (Rousseau & Cole 2008). This element states that all people are equal and they are situated systematically relative to one another. Furthermore, these people have some incentives to leave the previous situations in favour of some advantages that are gained by the entry of the civil society in the context. The second element focuses on the normative characterization of all parties that are involved in the contract. These are people or groups that are motivated by interests, concerned with the welfare of the others, and rational in respect to their own interests and the interests of others. One of the major weaknesses of social contract theory is its emphasis on the state of nature. Hobbes describes this state as one with no government institutions such as police, military, courts, etc. Such a state would result to anarchy because there is no effective way of governing the people. Therefore, people would be doing their own things without any rules to guide their behaviours. Such a state would be characterized by murder and other crime activities. Therefore, even as the theory agitates for the state of nature, the rules and guidelines must be emphasized in order to create order in the society. Furthermore, the leaders should not only be guided by the urge to serve the people but by the rules that have been set by these people (Erckel 2009). This would ensure that people who have no interest in serving the rest of the population do not misuse the powers embedded on them by the people do not serve their own interests. Social theory is weak because of its focus on equality of need. It argues that people have essentially the same needs such as food, shelter, etc. In addition, it agitates for rough equality of power. This is through arguing that although some people are to some extent stronger than others, no one is more powerful to be invisible. Therefore, it advises the people that they should unite and subdue such people. This is a complete contradiction to some of its elements. For instance, it talks of leaders who are able to look at the interests of the people first. However, these leaders need to be given attention and time to organize issues in order to govern people effectively (Rousseau & Cole 2008). Therefore, stating that when people think that matters of governance are not being handled effectively they should subdue the operations of the leaders is a contradictory position. The theory states that there is scarcity of resources but people should share the remaining resources equitably. However, if the people are left to govern and share the scarce resources on their own, there is a high possibility that conflicts are likely to arise. Therefore, government institutions are very significant in ensuring that people live harmoniously with each other (Erckel 2009). Hobbes believes that people are largely egoistic. Through the principle of limited altruism, he argues that they act usually from a self-interested motive. This theory does not address how such interests should be factored in when governing the people. In addition, the theory should have elaborated on how such observations should be factored in order to ensure that moral aspects are followed in the society (Morris 2009). Moreover, the theory does not address how fairness should be encouraged in a society that has some people who are stronger than the others. References Erckel, S. 2009. Classical Social Contract Theory: The Classical Social Contract Theories of Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau Compared. München: GRIN Verlag GmbH. Heywood, A. 2000. Key concepts in politics. New York: St. Martins Press. Kercher, J. 2004. The Social Contract and its contentious role for Rawlss Theory of Justice. Munich: GRIN Verlag GmbH. Morris, C. W. 2009. The social contract theorists: Critical essays on Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield. Riley, P. 2013. Will and Political Legitimacy: A Critical Exposition of Social Contract Theory in Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Kant, and Hegel. s.l.: Harvard University Press. Rousseau, J. J. 2014. Social contract. S.l.: Free Press. Rousseau, J. -J., & Cole, G. D. 2008. The social contract. New York, NY: Cosimo Clasics. Skyrms, B. 2014. Evolution of the social contract. Read More