The extent of human cooperation is one of the crucial characteristics that distinguish Homo Sapiens from other animals. Nevertheless, the emphasis on personal benefit, competition, and denial of group mentality is the qualities that outline the expanding individualistic culture – nowadays, it has become a global phenomenon, infiltrating countries where this behavior is somewhat atypical (Hoffman et al., 2018). The advancement in human history is to one degree, or another may be viewed as an outcome of collaborative nature, which makes the social contract theorist’s claim rather viable.
Considering the benefits of cooperation, the prisoner’s dilemma seems to contradict the basics on which societal structures are built. The existence of a contract that guides social interactions and ensures their profitableness for all the parties involved requires a certain degree of trust (Moehler, 2018). Even though the social contract theorist’s claim and the prisoner’s dilemma conflict with each other on the surface, self-interest can act as a principal motivation for cooperative behavior (Robert & Broman, 2017). The prisoner’s dilemma accentuates the advantages that two individuals can achieve by mutual trust; nevertheless, as the paradox shows, the lack of faith in the other brings negative effects for both.
Greed and conflict, as well as partnership, seemingly, are intrinsic characteristics of human society. This dual nature is emphasized by the refusal to cooperate found in the prisoner’s dilemma, despite the potential benefits of collaborative behavior. The ability to work jointly towards the same aim is more developed in humans than in any other species; it resulted in the current societal progress and constitutes the basis for the theory of social contract.
References
Degrazia, D. (2000). Prozac, enhancement, and self-creation. The Hastings Center Report, 30(2), 34.
Robert, K.-H., & Broman, G. (2017). Prisoners’ dilemma misleads business and policymaking. Journal of Cleaner Production, 140, 10–16.
Hoffman, A. J., Alamilla, S., & Liang, B. (2018). The social contract theory revisited: Examining the relationship between greed, conflict, and the evolution of cooperation. The Role of Community Development in Reducing Extremism and Ethnic Conflict, 135–153.
Moehler, M. (2018). Diversity, stability, and social contract theory. Philosophical Studies. 176, 3285–3301.