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  • Essay / An Analysis of Nozick and Held's Political Theories

    In Held's Critical Studies (1987), the political activist and philosopher argues that a contemporary society is now influenced by contractual models of relationships. Held argues: “We are told that modern democratic states are based on a social contract, that their economies should be viewed as a free market, in which producers, employers, consumers, and employees enter into contractual agreements” (Held, 1987, p. 782). ). In this context, society also perceives a culture as a free market. Therefore, various philosophers and political activists consider that morality itself could also be perceived from contractual terms. In response to these assumptions, other political theorists also contribute to the understanding of a contractual society. Although Robert Nozick was not considered a political activist or a philosopher, his contributions to political frameworks are evident. Nozick has notably had a major influence on the analysis of personal identity, as well as on the analysis of right-wing political contributions. Thus, in order to understand why Held makes demands against the current system, it is essential to consider his social and political views and compare them with contractual political theories, arguing that government should primarily serve as a moralizing tool for community. the contributions of both theorists went beyond the limits of political philosophy, Nozick succeeded in providing new political models for building a social environment and consolidating communities (Hoffman & Graham, 2013). Nozick did not believe that the function of government was to make individuals moral and adhere to moral and ethical principles. Nozick's liberal view provided the analysis of the conditions of individuals, as it considers moral principles as fundamental in making governmental decisions. These relationships can contribute to increased awareness of how these family ties can strengthen the economic and political environment. Lack of morality and ethics can lead to deprivation of the fundamentals of human interaction. The most important thing to take away from this framework is that it can improve the well-being of individuals and protect their privacy rights, thereby making society a better place for everyone. References Haber, JG and Halfon, MS ( 1998). Norms and Values: Essays on the Work of Virginia Held. Lanham, MR: Rowman & Littlefield. Held, V. (1987). Non-contractual society: a feminist vision. Canada: University of Calgary Press. Hoffman, J., Graham, P. (2013). An introduction to political theory. New York, New York: Routledge.