Rosseau Flashcards
(12 cards)
What is the role of property in societal innovation?
Private ownership demonstrates the beginnings of inequality for people, though it does not lead to society on its own. Property rights over land + agrarian economic structure leads to social/power inequality which shows in a society/community and its laws/labor structure.
(Jean Jacques Rosseau, Discourse on Inequality)
Is inequality natural/inevitable?
Inequality is inevitable, but inequality isn’t always a value judgement, just means a difference (not better or worse).
(Jean-Jacques Rosseau, Discourse on Inequality)
What is Rosseau’s view on societal progress?
Humans have mistaken their current deformed selves for the way it always has been. Conditions of modern day are so different from the state of nature that we cannot recognize ourselves without that framework. The more knowledge we accumulate, the further we are taken from understanding ourselves - the more we know about ourselves, the less we can ever learn what it means to be human without that introspection.
(Jean-Jacques Rosseau, Discourse on Inequality)
What is the transition from natural inequality to modern inequality?
Natural inequalities from natural state of humans + Historical progress = Modern inequality.
(Jean-Jacques Rosseau, Discourse on Inequality)
What is humanity in the state of nature?
Humanity has no understanding of itself and moves based only on survival and compassion in the state of nature (as opposed to Hobbes’s view).
(Jean-Jacques Rosseau, Discourse on Inequality)
What is Rosseau’s view on free will?
He believes that humanity is the only organism given the ability to exercise free will and go against their instincts.
(Jean-Jacques Rosseau, Discourse on Inequality)
What are the conclusions of Rosseau?
Since state of nature has only natural inequalities, modern inequality is a product of our mental and social development - modern inequality is not justified by natural morality. Moral/Political inequality contradicts nature rights when it does not resemble physical/natural inequality –> children can’t rule adults, dumb people don’t advise wise people, etc.
State of nature - Hobbes and Rosseau?
Both believe that you can go back to a state similar to state of nature. Hobbes thinks you should get away from it as soon as possible while Rosseau believes we can fall into barbarism (not exactly the state of nature).
What is immorality in society?
Too much/not enough work, gratifying sensual desires too easily and often, wealthy eat too much rich foods/poor don’t have enough to eat, lack of adequate sleep due to work/indulgence, immoderation, privatization, and excess –> indulged too much, too many anxieties.
(Jean-Jacques Rosseau, Discourse on Inequality)
What is Pity?
Product of natural aversion to seeing other beings suffer. Root of generosity/friendship. Pity and Self-love are what motivated us in the state of nature.
(Jean-Jacques Rosseau, Discourse on Inequality)
Passion v. Reason?
Passion and reason are not opposites, they work together. Passions come from wants/desires while reason is developed to satisfy wants/desires. It takes reason and reflection to ignore our natural compassion.
(Jean-Jacques Rosseau, Discourse on Inequality)
Natural inequality v. moral/political inequality?
Natural inequality = differences in age, health, strength, intelligence, etc. Moral/Political Inequality = Depends on convention - caused by consent and difference in socio-economic status, etc.
(Jean-Jacques Rosseau, Discourse on Inequality)
