(Return to main path )

I don't see the value in talking about a social contract. First of all, there never was a real historical contract at the basis of government or morality or property. Systems of government and systems of rights (if any) have usually been established by violence. Secondly, even if there were a contract to create these things, what does that have to do with us? Why should WE pay any attention to what THEY agreed to? (Need I point out that the women were probably not asked for their opinions?)

At best we are talking about a hypothetical contract. IF people of a certain sort had gathered to discuss certain issues they would have come to certain conclusions. But again, how can a contract that was never made bind us to anything?

Consider this -- I have an old copy of John Stuart Mill's Utilitarianism. Maybe I would have agreed to sell it to you for $5 if you had asked me last week. If I find out this week that it is a rare copy and worth $500 am I obligated to sell it to you for $5 because of a contract that never took place? I think not.

I just don't see the relevance of all this talk about contracts.