Contractualism

Question 1

essence of contractualism (rational ethical egoist) =

Answer 1

1. I benefit more from everyone (including me) accepting and obeying the rule, than from not having the moral rule
2. I can reasonably believe that everyone else will accept and obey the moral rule (if everyone is rational, and if everyone else also benefits more from the rule than not having the rule) -> Gauthier’s advantageous for everyone

Question 2

The thesis of Gauthier?

Answer 2

Morality is a system of principles/rules, in everyone’s self interest if we all accept these. Accepting the system is better for everyone, compared to:
1. Having no system, or:
2. Having an alternative system which never requires disadvantageous acts

Question 3

Why would nations stick to the pact in the example of the arms race?

Answer 3

If A and B are prudent they will stick to the pact whenever violation would be detectable by the other, and violate the pact whenever violation would not be detectable by the other. Prudence under open conditions leads to mutually advantageous consequences, under conditions of secrecy, if both countries perform the prudent action, this will lead to mutually disadvantageous consequences.

Question 4

Morality as a contract (derives from self-interest):

Answer 4

• a solution to practical problems for ethical egoists
• without morality, we cannot pursue our self-interest to the fullest
• pure self-interest is ultimately self-defeating

Question 5

Would an ethical egoist accept state intervention?

Answer 5

Yes, because:
1. I benefit more from everyone (for example) going sustainable than I would from being able to drive my SUV at no extra cost
2. I can reasonably believe that this is true for everyone else

Contractualism justifies state intervention. Civil disobedience is justified if the law doesn’t pass the contractualist pact.

-> not always, think of fast fashion exploited workers example etc

Question 6

What is the contractualist point of view to intergenerational tragedies?

Answer 6

There’s no mututal benefit from cooperation, current generation would have to sacrifice but does not benefit from having the rule. So there’s no mutual advantegousness.

Question 7

What does Heath say about indirect reciprocity?

Answer 7

According to Heath the conception of reciprocity is too narrow. He claims there are many systems of cooperation that don’t have the structure of direct reciprocity -> his experiments with games etc suggest that people following contractualist ideas could cooperate with future generations. The model shows that cooperation, even across different generations, is possible through indirect reciprocity.

Question 8

Why do people act destructive when it comes to the environment according to Andreou?

Answer 8

According to Andreou this is because of intransitive preferences -> problem of the self torturer.

A rational collective should not always make choices based on preferences -> The task is to settle, somewhat arbitrarily, on an option that is within the range of acceptable.