You step into a glass lift and are immediately greeted by a friendly operator who asks you which floor you’d like. Still in awe of your surroundings, you stammer, “Um, I’m not quite sure. I’m here to learn about social contract theory, but I just don’t know where to begin.”
“Not a problem,” the operator assures you. “Social contract theory basically teaches that a person’s moral obligations stem from a contract or agreement with other people. In order to form this contract, people agree to give up certain freedoms that they would possess in a state of nature in exchange for the order and civility that is afforded through the rules of the social contract. I’ve worked here for decades and met most of the great theorists who have offices here. You’ve come to the right place.”
“You must know a lot about this building,” you reply feeling a little more at ease.
“Yes, indeed. This building is a testament to the strength of the social contract. Once a contract is signed, everyone who is a party has a duty to abide by the rules. The soaring tower symbolizes that those participating in the process must have the rational capacity to understand the contract. Throughout these corridors, you’ll find hundreds of conference rooms where people can hammer out the details of contracts. The floor-to-ceiling windows throughout signify that people must consent to the contract and the terms must be transparent to those participating. Finally, the sheer opulence of the building demonstrates that many of the matters negotiated in the social contract involve property and distribution of wealth.”
“Wow, these social contracts must be very important!” you remark.
“Absolutely! They form the basis of a political society and lay the foundation for a government. I can tell that you are a novice in social contract theory, so I think you should begin your expedition on a lower-level floor,” the operator says as the elevator swooshes to a stop. “These are the offices of John Locke. This is a good place to learn the basics of the theories.”
