Social Contract Theory

1014 Words5 Pages
Casey Anthony Trial and the Social Contract Theory CRJ 141 Professor D' Arcy Section 2 Known as the “social media trial of the century” by Time Magazine, the trial of Casey Anthony stirred many opinions during the nearly two months of proceedings (Cloud, 2011). Anthony is alleged to have killed her two year old daughter Caylee in Orlando, Florida. Anthony was first investigated by police after her mother contacted 911 and reported she had not seen her grand-daughter in a month. Casey was eventually acquitted of the homicide, but was found guilty on four counts of lying to police. She was credited with time served and was released shortly after her sentencing hearing. The public and media were crying foul. The entire country was soon keen to the details of the Anthony case by news, Facebook, Twitter and other social media outlets. The details, whether true or gossiped, spread much like a wildfire. The social contract theory is the belief that people live in a society with an unwritten and socially accepted contract for a relationship between the people and their government. The people follow certain rules to protect themselves from violence and the like. The government in turn enforces those rules. In the absence of a social contract, the state of nature exists which citizens actions are governed by personal morals and beliefs. Better explained by Thomas Hobbes, each person has unlimited natural freedoms, and in turn can rape, murder and steal. Therefore, the social contract is crucial to maintain day to day order when the government can't watch over the safety of all. With that in mind, the public outcry over the acquittal of Casey Anthony comes when the public's view of guilty and the legal definition of guilt do not account to the same thing. The court and jury could not find guilt beyond a reasonable doubt based solely off the evidence presented

More about Social Contract Theory

Open Document