The starting point for the theory is that no society
can work satisfactorily if it does not have a peaceful
order and usually other public goods as well. Obviously,
anarchic violence cannot be rational for a
society: the victims of violence and theft lose not only
what is taken from them but also the incentive to
produce any goods that would be taken by others.
There is accordingly little or no production in the
absence of a peaceful order. Thus there are colossal
gains from providing domestic tranquility and other
basic public goods. These gains can be shared in ways
that leave everyone in a society better off. Can we
conclude that because everyone could gain from it, a
peaceful order emerges by voluntary agreement?