How the concept of social contract relate to natural law

What is meant by a social contract? How does the concept of social contract relate to natural law? Provide an example of a social or criminal issue that challenges the concept of natural law.

find the cost of your paper

Sample Answer

 

 

 

A social contract is an implicit agreement between members of a society to cooperate for social benefits, such as peace and order. The concept of social contract is often attributed to the English philosopher Thomas Hobbes. In his book Leviathan, Hobbes argued that humans in their natural state would live in a state of war, where “life would be solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.” To escape this state of war, humans would agree to a social contract, where they would give up some of their natural freedoms in exchange for the protection and benefits of society.

The concept of social contract is closely related to the concept of natural law. Natural law is the idea that there are universal moral principles that are inherent in nature and that can be discovered through reason. Natural law theorists argue that these principles are binding on all humans and that they should form the basis of human law.

Full Answer Section

 

 

 

The concept of social contract is based on the idea that humans are free and rational beings who are capable of making agreements with each other. Natural law theorists argue that the principles of natural law are binding on all humans because they are derived from human nature.

However, there are some social and criminal issues that challenge the concept of natural law. One example is the issue of capital punishment. Capital punishment is the state-sanctioned killing of a person as punishment for a crime. Capital punishment is supported by some people on the grounds that it is a just punishment for certain crimes and that it deters others from committing those crimes. However, capital punishment is opposed by others on the grounds that it is a violation of the natural right to life.

Another example of a social and criminal issue that challenges the concept of natural law is the issue of abortion. Abortion is the termination of a pregnancy by the removal or expulsion of an embryo or fetus from the uterus, resulting in or caused by its death. Abortion is supported by some people on the grounds that a woman has the right to control her own body and that abortion is sometimes necessary to protect the life or health of the woman. However, abortion is opposed by others on the grounds that it is a violation of the natural right to life.

These are just two examples of social and criminal issues that challenge the concept of natural law. There are many other issues that could be discussed, such as the death penalty, euthanasia, and same-sex marriage.

It is important to note that there is no single definition of natural law and that there is no consensus on which social and criminal issues challenge the concept of natural law. These are complex issues with no easy answers.

This question has been answered.

Get Answer