Deriving morality from rationality -A defence of the rationalchoice framework of David Gauthier's moral theory

Abstract: In this essay I will argue that any plausible moral theory should be able to provide a good answer to the question "why should I be moral"? This is the question of moral motivation. I will further suggest that a contractarian moral theory, such as that of David Gauthier,1 provides a plausible answer to this question. And that the ability to do this is due to the rational-choice framework of the contractarian theory. A moral theory that is able to provide an answer to the question of moral motivation is theoretically superior to other theories since it provides some foundations of morals.2 Anyone who wants to claim superiority of some other type of moral theory, a theory not grounded in rational-choice, will either have to deny the importance that I give to moral motivation and perhaps also deny the possibility of rational foundations in moral philosophy or show how their own theory gives an equally good answer to the question of moral motivation.