Alienation Social Contract By Thomas Hobbes: The Idea Of Collective Rationality

He then proposed the idea of collective rationality. For Hobbes, collective rationality is the situation in which, under the assumption that everyone else will act in the same way, the right way is the one that is best for each individual. This forms the basis of Hobbes’ Alienation Social Contract, where decisions are made on the basis of collective rationality. In Hobbes’ opinion, it is natural to choose peace over the “State of War”, where everyone benefits collectively – better amenities, more security et cetera. Moreover, this coincides with his view that everyone should obey the two laws of nature if everyone else is doing it too. The Alienation Social Contract requires a sovereign to whom everyone of the community forfeits their rights

In short, this theory is akin to “justified coercion”. Hobbes, however, does not believe that the rights of each person is infringed on, for the state is acting for the people, meaning that the sovereign is merely obligating the people to follow what they actually want. As such, there is no real coercion involved. Hobbes’ theory, at first glance, seemed to be a win-win situation for both sides. Peace is attained, and everyone’s interests (collectively) are safeguarded. Based on his theory, everyone’s rights are not compromised as well, as they are merely obligated to follow the rules that they want. However, his theory has one rather glaring flaw. It lies on the assumption that whatever the people are obligated to follow lies in line with their own self interest. This is logically impossible and inapplicable to every single member in the state. If that is truly the case, there will not be the need for a state in the first place for everyone are like-minded and hence have no reason to conflict. Additionally, in the situation where an individual’s

By giving up all rights to self-governance to the sovereign, all individuals are reduced to automatons that act on the will of the state. In my opinion, that is too extreme. We should answer the question of the amount of authority to give up instead of doing what Hobbes proposed – which is to give it up entirely. In terms of collective utility, this theory still does not really sit well. Hobbes’ theory of the Alienation Social Contract Theory can possibly result in a state where many are oppressed with no power to fight back, much like the modern dictatorship (just that the dictator are the rules set by the state). As such, it appears to be a very extreme form of “equality”, where everyone is the same. As for freedom, Hobbes’ theory is clearly lacking. The people are only “free” to act within the rules set by the sovereign, regardless whether it is what they really want. Hence, to avoid being crippled by the system that is supposed to safeguard our interests yet enable us to live harmoniously with others, Hobbes’ theory is not a good solution to resolve the tension for it is way too extreme on one