New Approaches to Social Contract Theory: Liberty, Equality, Diversity and the Open Society

This workshop features new approaches to social contract theory. Whereas traditional social contract theories and their adaptations in the 20th century were developed for fairly homogeneous societies, societies in the 21st century often are characterized by conflicting first-order directives that stem from deep moral, political, religious, and cultural diversity. To address such diversity and the complexities of contemporary societies, new approaches (including formal approaches) to social contract theory have emerged that re-envision the social contract for a fragmented and sometimes polarized, yet interdependent, social world. 

New social contract theory explores how, in a world of continuous disagreement on questions of justice, in particular the ideals of liberty and equality, society not only can progress but also flourish and become more robust and open in its social fabric. This workshop (and the companion volume to be published by Oxford University Press) brings together, for the first time, defenders and discussants of new social contract theory. It will include contributions by eminent and emerging scholars in this field.