Of Patricians and Social Contract

Radiofree West Hartford ^ | February 12, 2003 | Paul Peters

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There has been much discussion lately about what it means to be an American. I would like to address this question from two angles; 1) Social Contract and 2) the Patrician Class. Although these concepts appear to represent opposite sides of the political aisle, they deal with what it means to be an American from the perspectives of the commoner, the intellectual and the politician.

Social contract means the common understanding by which we conduct our daily lives within society. The term "social contract" was developed to describe the restrictions to which we mutually agree that society may function (click here for more information http://www.rinfret.com/contract.html ). Social contract is that understanding which permits people of different races, colors and creeds to stand shoulder to shoulder and operate as one nation. For example, Italian, German and Irish immigrants to America consciously shifted from the Italian, Deutsch and Gaelic languages to the English language to accommodate government, commerce and education. Social contract also encompasses laws which restrict individual behavior for the common good. Americans drive on the right side of the road and are generally limited to 65 mph. If a person drives on the left side of the road, that person will hopefully be arrested before he kills someone. Social contract.

One of the assumptions of Social Contract theory is that the individual, ironically, flourishes because of restrictions placed on him and other members of society. The individual flourishes because society provides a safe context in which the individual may develop to his highest potential, so long as that potential does not involve deviation from societal norms. The individual on some level agrees that what is best for him personally, is not necessarily what is best for the society at large.