Rousseau Flashcards
(24 cards)
the point of the social contract
to show how the civil state can be constituted in such a way to realise human freedom
rousseau on the state of nature
life is great, ideal - civil society is a corruption of the state of nature, most people in civil societies complain of their existence
rousseaus on how civil society was founded
the first man who enclosed an area of ground and said it was his was the true founder of society
rousseaus critique of societies foundation
how many crimes/murders would have been spared if this didnt happen, it needs to be remembered that the fruits of the earth are everyones
what life is like in the state of nature
natural man is a solitary hunter gatherer, strong agile and fast, no property, immune from illnesses, dont have to work
what the humans in the state of nature are like
selfish, avoids conflict/contact with other human beings, only contact needed is male/female and mother/child, no reason or language
rousseau on the origin of language
language might not be necessary, first language is the cry of nature, can only become more refined in a society
did they state of nature actually happen?
it seems unrealistic to suppose that any life like this has happened, rousseau mentions indigenous people but their way of life doesnt resemble this
is natural man an animal?
sophisticated mammals live in communities too, they are often hierarchical
is the state of nature a better option?
yes as its true that life in society is painful and alienating, we must restrict ourselves in all sorts of ways to live comfortably
what is amour propre
natural man has love of self but in society we have amour propre (self regard) we have to distinguish ourselves in relation to other people, some people will always want more/better than others
our false needs
we may never satisfy them, we can never feel secure enough in relation to other human beings
pros of the social contract/civil society
we gain civil liberty and property in all that we possess
cons of the social contract/civil society
we lose natural liberty and an unlimited right to do anything which tempts us
rousseaus concept of the general will
the public in civil society is a moral and collective body which has common self, life and will
the general will
aggregate of the particular wills of a political groups members, what the group would will if it was considering its most rational interest
alienation of the general will
it can never be alienated, while power can be transmitted to a third party, the general will never can
the indivisibility of the general will
the will is general or its not, it either represents the body of the people or only a portion
is the general will good
it is always right, it always tends to the public advantage, men always desire their own good but cannot always discern it
how does the general will benefit us
civil society restricts our freedom in many ways but if laws were in accordance with the general will we would receive a higher sort of freedom
does the general will solve the problem of political authority
no but vigilante example, if the vigilante is doing what most people want then its more justified?
the issue with the general will
we dont always know what it is, our interests always conflict, how can we know whats good for the people from the top down
is this a recipe for terror?
if the general will is what people really want but people dont realise what they want should we force them to want it?
how to apply the general will
rousseau thinks we need a small city state type polity as in a large society it is hard to make laws in line with the general will
