Obey the social contract!!

[SwimExpert]

The social contract is brought up from time to time around here. I think most people don't really get it. Therefore, discuss.

 

[DGS49]

If you obey the law and pay your taxes, you are eligible for all of the benefits provided by Government. Government will keep you safe, provide roads and bridges and "free" schools, provide help when you are poor, enforce your contracts, react when your neighbors violate your personal and property rights, and so on.

And don't forget, "obeying the law" includes the obligation to serve in the Armed Forces if and when called upon to do so.

 

[SwimExpert]

Interesting synopsis. But why do you including paying taxes, and providing help when you are poor?

 

[AntonToo]

Interesting synopsis. But why do you including paying taxes, and providing help when you are poor?

You want to try that again in English?

 

[Ringel05]

If you obey the law and pay your taxes, you are eligible for all of the benefits provided by Government. Government will keep you safe, provide roads and bridges and "free" schools, provide help when you are poor, enforce your contracts, react when your neighbors violate your personal and property rights, and so on.

And don't forget, "obeying the law" includes the obligation to serve in the Armed Forces if and when called upon to do so.

Uummmm, the Socrates argument. Why not one of the more modern philosophers? Hobbes? Locke? Rousseau? Rawls?

 

[SwimExpert]

Interesting synopsis. But why do you including paying taxes, and providing help when you are poor?

You want to try that again in English?

Wow....

 

[AntonToo]

Interesting synopsis. But why do you including paying taxes, and providing help when you are poor?

You want to try that again in English?

Wow....

No seriously, it's tough to understand what you are trying to say.

 

[Dogmaphobe]

Of course we are. We lack effective claws and teeth, are rather slow afoot, do not have any protective hide or other defensive abilities, and only survive because of our ability to work in groups.

What kind of idiot would think a completely social animal is not part of some sort of implied social contract?

 

[SwimExpert]

Of course we are. We lack effective claws and teeth, are rather slow afoot, do not have any protective hide or other defensive abilities, and only survive because of our ability to work in groups.

What kind of idiot would think a completely social animal is not part of some sort of implied social contract?

Can you come back after you've grown at least half the normal amount of gray matter for a goldfish?

 

[Arianrhod]

Of course we are. We lack effective claws and teeth, are rather slow afoot, do not have any protective hide or other defensive abilities, and only survive because of our ability to work in groups.

What kind of idiot would think a completely social animal is not part of some sort of implied social contract?

Can you come back after you've grown at least half the normal amount of gray matter for a goldfish?

Can you counter the argument or just sling insults?

 

[SwimExpert]

Of course we are. We lack effective claws and teeth, are rather slow afoot, do not have any protective hide or other defensive abilities, and only survive because of our ability to work in groups.

What kind of idiot would think a completely social animal is not part of some sort of implied social contract?

Can you come back after you've grown at least half the normal amount of gray matter for a goldfish?

Can you counter the argument or just sling insults?

There was an argument there?

 

[Arianrhod]

Of course we are. We lack effective claws and teeth, are rather slow afoot, do not have any protective hide or other defensive abilities, and only survive because of our ability to work in groups.

What kind of idiot would think a completely social animal is not part of some sort of implied social contract?

Can you come back after you've grown at least half the normal amount of gray matter for a goldfish?

Can you counter the argument or just sling insults?

There was an argument there?

Gotta love posters who troll their own threads.

Do you live alone on a mountain (probably on public land), grow your own food, weave your own clothing, construct your own weapons and ammo, and never speak to another human? Otherwise, you're part of a social contract, whether you like it or not.

 

[SwimExpert]

Gotta love posters who troll their own threads.

If you want to translate the antontoo's word salad into something resembling an intelligible thought then be my guest.

Do you live alone on a mountain (probably on public land), grow your own food, weave your own clothing, construct your own weapons and ammo, and never speak to another human?

Of course not. I have slaves who do that for me.

Otherwise, you're part of a social contract, whether you like it or not.

So....yes? Cool. Now, a question for you: Why do you invoke growing one's own food, weaving clothing, etc?

 

[Arianrhod]

Gotta love posters who troll their own threads.

If you want to translate the antontoo's word salad into something resembling an intelligible thought then be my guest.

Do you live alone on a mountain (probably on public land), grow your own food, weave your own clothing, construct your own weapons and ammo, and never speak to another human?

Of course not. I have slaves who do that for me.

Otherwise, you're part of a social contract, whether you like it or not.

So....yes? Cool. Now, a question for you: Why do you invoke growing one's own food, weaving clothing, etc?

Because in order to provide for your own necessities, you have to interact with other people. That's the social contract at its most basic.

 

[SwimExpert]

Because in order to provide for your own necessities, you have to interact with other people. That's the social contract at its most basic.

What leads you to this conclusion?

 

[Arianrhod]

Because in order to provide for your own necessities, you have to interact with other people. That's the social contract at its most basic.

What leads you to this conclusion?

Common sense.

 

[Treeshepherd]

The social contract is palpable when you're driving on busy streets and freeways. Lives are at stake. It amazes me that there aren't more accidents. People take some liberties (everyone breaks the traffic laws from time to time) but most people keep it within reason.

 

[SwimExpert]

Because in order to provide for your own necessities, you have to interact with other people. That's the social contract at its most basic.

What leads you to this conclusion?

Common sense.

So.....you got nothing? We just gotta swallow whatever you dole out?

 

[Arianrhod]

Because in order to provide for your own necessities, you have to interact with other people. That's the social contract at its most basic.

What leads you to this conclusion?

Common sense.

So.....you got nothing? We just gotta swallow whatever you dole out?

So you don't know what common sense means? This is interesting. What are you doing right now? Posting on a message board, yes? You're participating in a social contract.

I think I see what your problem is. "Social" sounds too much like "socialism" to you, and it scares you.

 

[SwimExpert]

So you don't know what common sense means? This is interesting. What are you doing right now? Posting on a message board, yes? You're participating in a social contract.

I think I see what your problem is. "Social" sounds too much like "socialism" to you, and it scares you.

What is the point of your mindless hostility? I am asking you questions to generate discussion and an exchange of ideas. For some reason, you're having a hissy fit.

How is posting on a messageboard part of the social contract? Why do you incorporate using an internet messageboard into the social contract? And please do not say that it is common sense, because it is not. You are inserting things into the social contract which are not inherent to it. If you are right to include these things, and I'm not saying you aren't, it's not self evident. I'm happy to hear all about how you've abstracted your opinion. But if you can't actually explain those abstract connections, then you are merely saying things you expect people to accept upon your saying so.