Reconciling Justice and Pleasure in Epicurean Contractarianism
Ethical Theory and Moral Practice 16 (2):423-436 (2013)
Abstract
Epicurean contractarianism is an attempt to reconcile individualistic hedonism with a robust account of justice. The pursuit of pleasure and the requirements of justice, however, have seemed to be incompatible to many commentators, both ancient and modern. It is not clear how it is possible to reconcile hedonism with the demands of justice. Furthermore, it is not clear why, even if Epicurean contractarianism is possible, it would be necessary for Epicureans to endorse a social contract. I argue here that Epicurean contractarianism is both possible and necessary once we understand Epicurean practical rationality in a new way. We are left with an appealing version of teleological, individualistic contractarianism that is significantly different from Hobbesian contractarianismAuthor's Profile
DOI
10.1007/s10677-012-9348-5
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Citations of this work
Contemporary Approaches to the Social Contract.Fred D'Agostino, John Thrasher & Gerald Gaus - 2011 - Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
The Epicureans on Human Nature and its Social and Political Consequences.Jan Maximilian Robitzsch - 2017 - Polis 34 (1):1-19.
A Game-Theoretic Solution to the Inconsistency Between Thrasymachus and Glaucon in Plato’s Republic.Hun Chung - 2016 - Ethical Perspectives 23 (2):383-410.
Depression, Ataraxia, and the Pig.Léa Salje - forthcoming - Australasian Journal of Philosophy:1-16.
References found in this work
The Grammar of Society: The Nature and Dynamics of Social Norms.Cristina Bicchieri - 2005 - Cambridge University Press.