Michele Moody-Adams's "The Social Contract and the Myth of Amoralism" argues that the traditional conception of a "social contract", as posited by thinkers like Hobbes and Locke, rests on the flawed assumption that individuals are inherently amoral and would only adhere to social agreements out of self-interest or fear of punishment. Moody-Adams contends that this "myth of amoralism" ignores the pre-existing moral considerations and cooperative tendencies that actually underpin social order and make the formation of society and its norms possible.
The book unpacks how genuine moral reasoning, rather than just prudential calculation, plays a crucial role in establishing and maintaining social bonds and justifying political authority. Readers gain an understanding of how morality is not solely a product of social institutions but a foundational element that enables their very existence, challenging the notion that coercion or enlightened self-interest are the primary drivers of social cooperation.
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Key concepts
- Myth of Amoralism — The problematic philosophical claim that individuals are fundamentally self-interested and lack inherent moral motivation, necessitating external social structures for order.
- Pre-social Morality — The idea that individuals possess moral capacities and considerations that precede and enable the formation of social and political agreements.
- Rational Cooperation — The process by which individuals, guided by moral reasoning and a sense of fairness, choose to collaborate for mutual benefit and social stability.
- Social Contract Theory — A philosophical concept that envisions society as arising from an implicit agreement among individuals to surrender certain freedoms in exchange for protection and order.