(April 6, 2007)

Abstract:
Contractualism as T. M. Scanlon has conceptualized it has become one of
the more influential moral theories of the past decade. Though
contractualism connects to the social contract tradition, it has not
yet been developed into a full-fledged political philosophy.

Abstract: 
At least since Rawls, the idea of a clear distinction between the private and
the public has entrenched itself in moral, legal and political
philosophy. Philosophical justification is in order when we take moral
principles, intended to advise persons on their obligations to others,
and extend them into the political realm, where their application is
backed by state authority. This paper is an attempt to bridge the
divide, to make Scanlonian contractualism an account to evaluate legal
and political institutions. In addition to providing the philosophical
justification for the move, I offer an illustration of how
contractualism can be used to evaluate legal rules and policies. I
illustrate how contractualism can be used to understand the emerging
odious debt doctrine in international law. This is an early draft of a
paper to be presented at the conference, “The Social Contract in the
Modern Welfare State: Historical and Theoretical Perspectives,” to be
held April 18-20, 2007 at the University of Oxford Centre for
Social-Legal Studies and funded by the Foundation for Law, Justice and
Society.