(April 17, 2013 at 4:12 pm)ChadWooters Wrote: Any social contract would serve as a binding code of conduct whether overtly or tacitly expressed. Establishment of such a code would come from some cultural/political process. Enforcement of the code of conduct would range from social pressure to criminal prosecution. Both establishment and enforcement depend on power and the willingness to use force. If you accept 'might makes right' as the ultimate basis of morality, then social contract theories make perfect sense. I do not believe any moral system worthy of the name can have power and force as its foundation.
Well no but it works nicely enough as a code of justice to enforce the agreed upon behavioral limits that a community will accept. By banding together we indeed inject power and force into the system. Since we are all invested in maximizing our liberties while maintaining safety, we have the basis for checks and balances in the exercise of that force. Abuse will occur but if we all feel it necessary we'll put in safe guards and just carry on the best we can.
