Jean-Jacques Rousseau(1712 – 1778)

Mr. Barnett & Mr. KarlowiczUniversity High SchoolAP US Government 2012-2013

A Man Apart Eclectic Interests

Author Artist Musician Composer Botanist Philosopher▪ 1750 – Discourse on the Sciences and the Arts▪ 1755 – A Discourse on the Origin of Inequality▪ 1755 – A Discourse on Political Economy▪ 1762 – Emile, or On Education

A Man Apart

Born in the independent city-state Geneva 1712 Calvinist city Son of Issac Rouseau, watchmaker and citizen

Big Break in Paris Essay contest Discourse on the Sciences and the Arts Comes to the conclusion that humankind is

good by nature but corrupted by society

A Man Apart

Blamed art and science Not authentic human needs Result of pride and vanity – Need for

recognition & superiority Have paved way for excess materialism,

and laziness

Philosophy

But…if society composed of inherently good people how is it corrupting?

In “natural state” people are not dissimilar to animals - savages Possess, amour de soi, positive self-love Need to self-preserve Compassion

“Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains. Those who think themselves the masters of others are indeed greater slaves than they.”

Philosophy Turning point happens when small villages appear Competition for mates leads to amour propre - pride

desire to compare self to others and to take pleasure in the shortcomings of others

Situation gets worse with development of: Private Property Agriculture and metallurgy Material interdependence

Unequal relations lead to: Misrepresentation to further own means Loss of freedom Alienation of self

Philosophy

Break with French Enlightenment 1758 – Letter to D’Alembert on the

Theater

Philosophy However, amour prope (pride), possibly

redeeming Develops humans’ rational capabilities Provides a sense of self among others in society

Expressed in the Social Contract Rousseau sets out to answer how to reconcile

individual freedom with state authority People can no longer satisfy all of their needs without

working with others Thus, need system where people enjoy protection of

state but retain their freedom

Philosophy How to reconcile freedom & authority?

“Man is born free, but everywhere in chains”

General Will Collective will of the citizenry Source of law - willed by all citizens and applies

to all citizens General in application & universal in scope Exchange natural freedom for civil/moral freedom Thus, by obeying the law each citizen is subject

to their own will, and remains free!

Philosophy The Breakdown:

Individuals yield to the “General Will” The “General Will” unifies citizens under the

republic or “Body Politic” The “Body Politic” is sovereign The sovereign power exercises the “General

Will”

▪ Republican representative government?

Round and Round We Go…

General Will

Republic or Body Politic

Sovereign

Role of Government?

Implement the “General Will”

Uphold the social contract to ensure that all persons enjoy the same rights

Ensure that power shall be exercised with moderation Legislator creates, executive enforces Maintain the commonwealth Very Pessimistic

Role of Government?

Uphold four types of law Fundamental Law (structure) Civil Law (interpersonal) Criminal Law Morality, Custom, and Public Opinion

Avoid appeals to patriotism

Applications of Rousseau Framers of the Constitution

General Will and Republicanism Separation of Church and State?▪ Civil Religion▪ Atheists?

Four Types of Law

Marxists Submission to the “General Will” Elimination of “Theological Religion” Avoid Appeals to Patriotism

Legacy Controversial

Critical view of philosophers▪ Hobbes

Disliked by contemporaries ▪ Dierdot ▪ David Hume▪ Voltaire

“Rousseau was a genius whose real influence cannot be traced with precision because it pervaded all the thought that followed him…Men will always be sharply divided about Rousseau: for he released imagination as well as sentimentalism; he increased men's desire for justice as well as confusing their minds , and he gave the poor hope even though the rich could make use of his arguments. In one direction at least Rousseau's influence was a steady one: he discredited force as a basis for the State, convinced men that authority was legitimate only when founded in rational consent and that no arguments from passing expediency could justify a government in disregarding individual freedom or in failing to promote social equality”