Single Idea 20984

[catalogued under 24. Political Theory / B. Nature of a State / 2. State Legitimacy / c. Social contract]

Full Idea

The use of the social contract in the Rawlsian form inescapably limits the involvement of participants in the pursuit of justice to the members of a given polity, or 'people'.

Gist of Idea

A social contract limits the pursuit of justice to members of a single society

Source

Amartya Sen (The Idea of Justice [2009], 02 'Relevance')

Book Reference

Sen, Amartya: 'The Idea of Justice' [Penguin 2010], p.71


A Reaction

This relates to the criticism of contractarian ethics - that the weak have nothing to bargain with. One can either add international contracts, or appeal to natural human rights. Or we could just be nice to one another? Nah!