An Analysis of Nozick and Held's Political Theories

In the critical studies of Held (1987), the political activist and philosopher argues that a contemporary society is now influenced by the contractual patterns of relations. Held argues, “we are told that modern democratic states rest on a social contract, that their economies should be thought of as a free market, where producers, employers, consumers, and employees make contractual agreements” (Held, 1987, p. 782). In this context, society perceives a culture as a free market, as well. 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 understanding of a contractual society. Despite the fact that Robert Nozick was not considered to be a political activist and philosophy, his contributions to political frameworks are evident. In particular, Nozick has had a major influence on the analysis of personal identity, as well as the analysis of political right-wing contributions. So, in order to understand why Held introduces claims against the current system, it is essential to consider her social and political views and compare those with the contractual political theories, supporting that the government should serve as a moralizing tool for the community first.
While the both theorists’ contributions have outstripped the boundaries of the political philosophy, Nozick managed to provide new political models for building social medium and consolidating communities (Hoffman & Graham, 2013). Nozick did not believe that a function of the government is to make individuals moral and adhere to moral and ethical principles. Nozick’s liberal outlook provided the analysis of the conditi...

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...dividuals because it approves moral principles as fundamental in making governmental decisions. These relationships can contribute to the increased awareness of how these familial bonds can strengthen the economic and political environment. The lack of morality and ethics can lead to the deprivation of the fundamental principles of human interaction. The most important thing one should take from this framework is that it can improve the welfare of individuals and protect their privacy rights thus making the society a better place for all.

References
Haber, J. G., & Halfon, M. S. (1998). Norms and values: Essays on the work of Virginia Held. Lanham, MR: Rowman & Littlefield.
Held, V. (1987). Non-Contractual society: A feminist view. Canada: University of Calgary Press.
Hoffman, J., Graham, P. (2013). An introduction to political theory. New York, NY: Routledge.