Contractualism
Encyclopedia
Contractualism can refer to two different positions. First, it can to refer to moral theories based on social contract
theory, also known as contractarianism, which argue that what people ought to do is determined by contracts or agreements reached between those people. Second, the term was used by T. M. Scanlon
to refer to a theory initially developed in his book What We Owe to Each Other.
Social contract
The social contract is an intellectual device intended to explain the appropriate relationship between individuals and their governments. Social contract arguments assert that individuals unite into political societies by a process of mutual consent, agreeing to abide by common rules and accept...
theory, also known as contractarianism, which argue that what people ought to do is determined by contracts or agreements reached between those people. Second, the term was used by T. M. Scanlon
T. M. Scanlon
Thomas Michael Scanlon is the Alford Professor of Natural Religion, Moral Philosophy, and Civil Polity in Harvard University's Department of Philosophy. He has been awarded a MacArthur Foundation "Genius" Grant. He grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana; earned his Ph.D...
to refer to a theory initially developed in his book What We Owe to Each Other.