Final answer:
Kantian Contractualism is an ethical theory that emphasizes universal laws and perfect duties but struggles with non-rational agents and duty conflicts. Moral pluralism offers a critique by acknowledging the complexity of moral life. Social contract theory underpins why societal rules and property rights are central to maintaining order and economic prosperity.
Step-by-step explanation:
Kantian Contractualism is grounded in the philosophy of Immanuel Kant, particularly his emphasis on reason and duty as the basis for moral action. Kantian ethics argues that actions are morally right if they can be universally willed and that certain duties, known as perfect duties, must be fulfilled under any circumstances. However, this theory faces challenges such as its applicability only to rational agents, meaning it does not address the moral status of non-human entities or non-rational humans, and its struggle with resolving conflicts between duties. For instance, if one is faced with competing duties, such as the duty not to lie and the duty to prevent harm to an innocent person, Kantian ethics can have difficulty providing clear guidance on which duty should take precedence.
In contrast, philosophers like Sir William David Ross have criticized both classic utilitarianism and deontology for oversimplifying moral life. His approach, known as moral pluralism, recognizes that we have multiple prima facie duties that can conflict, and our moral obligations must be balanced considering the specific situation. Lastly, contractual rights as part of the broader social contract theory propose that individuals willingly abide by a society's rules in exchange for the protection of their rights, highlighting the importance of property rights and legal systems in maintaining societal order and economic growth.