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    Carmelics

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    LoyalLoyalJusticeJustice
    Made withinDC&Austin
    Statements
    321,452
    Perspectives
    108,905
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    42
    Home/Original/inverse
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    Inverse View

    It is not the case that Gauthier's own contractarianism requires agents capable of 'constrained maximization,' which presupposes a disposition to honor agreements independent of immediate self-interest.

    ?Set your confidence on the premises below to see your aggregate.

    Reasons For

    1 perspective
    Reason for
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    • 1.Constrained maximization could arise from enlightened self-interest alone—fearing reputation loss and future exclusion—without requiring non-selfish dispositions.
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    • 2.The claim conflates observable cooperative behavior with proof of independent moral dispositions; behavior consistent with hidden self-interest doesn't require altruism.
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    • 3.Gauthier's requirement creates a problematic circularity: contractarianism needs moral dispositions that contractarianism itself cannot derive from self-interest alone.
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    Reasons Against

    1 perspective
    Reason against
    ?
    • 1.Rational agents benefit from reliable cooperation, which requires a genuine disposition to honor agreements beyond immediate calculations.
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    • 2.Humans demonstrate consistent willingness to keep commitments even when defection would maximize personal gain, suggesting constrained maximization is psychologically real.
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    • 3.Without a commitment device independent of self-interest, contractual agreements become unstable and cooperation collapses into mutual distrust.
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