The Radical Nature of Social Contract Theorists

Man is increasingly intrigued by human nature and how society functions. Because of this interest, there is a plethora of concepts surrounding man and his condition. The social contract, an agreement among individuals where individuals must sacrifice something for protection, is a cornerstone in the operation of society. Over the years, various social contract theorists have worked to understand the ties that bind man. Karl Marx, Charles Darwin, and Friedrich Nietzsche, each felt constrained by their times, and because of this introduced radical concepts surrounding the social contract. Each of the philosophers’ revolutionary concepts challenges power and even though their arguments differ dramatically Nietzsche can be viewed as the most radical of the three.

Karl Marx is most often recognized as a radical who wanted to overthrow capitalism. Marx’s ideals came about at the start of the English Industrial Revolution and many believe that he was an evil radical who did not contribute to society. Marx’s most important contribution, however, was his analysis and critique of capitalism. Karl Marx was a man seeking justice, even though he ultimately created chaos in the process. He believed that in order to understand a society we must understand the society’s industry and structure of employment. In other words, Marx believed that all aspects of any society grew out of its economic base.

There is a social relationship of production, in which men depend on each other. “In order to produce, they enter into definite connection and relations with one another and only within these social connections and relations does their action on nature, does production, take place” (Marx 207). Even while the mode of production may vary, without thes...

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...hrough their radical theories. While each of their writings constitutes their own radical breaks with the societies and ideas of their day, Nietzsche was the most radical. Marx, Darwin, and Nietzsche, each felt constrained by their times, and because of this introduced radical concepts that challenge power, especially surrounding social contract theory.

Works Cited

Darwin, Charles, M.A. On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection. 1859. Print.

Marx, Karl, and Frederick Engels. The Marx-Engels Reader. Ed. Robert C. Tucker. 2nd ed. New York: W.W. Norton, 1978. Print.

Marx, Karl, and Frederick Engels. Wage Labour and Capital. Trans. Harriet E. Lothrop, M.D. New York: New York Labor News, 1902. Print.

Nietzsche, Friedrich W. On The Genealogy of Morals. Trans. Walter A. Kaufmann and R.J. Hollingdale. Vintage Books ed. New York: Random House, 1989. Print.