Things to Read: Philosophy of Race and the Social Contract

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1. Tom Kiesel says

   March 27, 2012 at 11:37 am

   It’s really a fascinating book. While it’s certainly true that Mills argues that the social contract tradition in social and political philosophy has racist underpinnings, the book has a far more expansive scope than just that piece of commentary on other philosophers.

   Mills advances a case that in contrast to other contractarian theories which take the contract itself as an ahistorical theoretical device, one can actually locate a real, operating social contract in known history: a contract between one group (conceived of as persons) over everyone else (conceived of as non-persons) This actual, historical reality of a contract of person over/against non-person gets the name the Racial Contract in Mills. Note the capitalization as a proper noun.

   Mills also notes that there’s a real parallel to draw between racial exploitation and gender exploitation, noting that a Sexual Contract (Pateman) is even more remote in the historical past.

   There’s some great stuff in the book on meta-commentary on contract theory, but also a solid case that contract theory can offer a real analysis of racial realities in the past few thousand years of human history.

   -Tom K.

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2. Law Ware says

   March 27, 2012 at 12:38 pm

   Yes, you are right–I just gave a one line recommendation to give people a feel for why they should read it.

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3. Tom Kiesel says

   March 27, 2012 at 5:43 pm

   Oh yes, I was sure of that, and it’s a great encapsulation. I just thought I’d toss a bit more out there for anyone who was intrigued by your recommendation.

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