Social Contract & Entitlement Theory

In my opinion, a social contract existed in our case study, “The Oil Rig.” There were clearly inequalities between the Angolans and the expatriates on the oil rig in terms of food, medical treatment and attention, housing and transportation. I believe to gain social order on the rig, rights of the Angolans were waived for the good of the order. I am in no way condoning a double class society, but in thinking of the rig as its own nation, it was formed to drill oil. It is beneficial to all members of the rig to work together towards the common goal of oil and put individual issues aside to make the most profit. If a social contract had not existed, some of the Angolans may have challenged the structure by sleeping in the expatriates’ quarters or eating their food, which may have decreased productivity in drilling.

In addition, I found the reading by Robert Nozick on Entitlement Theory rather thought provoking. If government operated under his philosophy, we would exist without taxation and redistributing wealth. Social welfare programs would not exist as we know them, yet all members of society would have their needs met. In my mind, this is a very utopian society, but so different from our current society that is seem unrealistic and unattainable.