I think that Gauthier might
agree with what you say. He isn't claiming to
provide the rationale for a morality as
demanding as that of Jesus or the Buddha.
Certainly not if we summarize Jesus's view as
"love thy neighbor as thyself."
As Fred has indicated,
contractarians claim to provide a solution to
the problem of obligation. They are suggesting
that rational people in a certain initial
situation would agree to certain moral rules.
Those rules are probably a moral minimum --
but at least they have a rationale, a
justification, a foundation.
If we go further and ask for
a morality of brotherly love, we reopen the
problem of obligation. In other words, we have
to ask how to justify such a demanding
morality. And a hypothetical agreement won't
do the job.
And remember -- we usually distinguish between what morality requires and actions that go beyond the requirements. Perhaps the ideal morality you are referring to is simply beyond what is morally required.
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