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Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712 – 1778)

Mr. Barnett & Mr. Karlowicz University High School AP US Government 2012-2013. Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712 – 1778) . A Man Apart. Eclectic Interests Author Artist Musician Composer Botanist Philosopher 1750 – Discourse on the Sciences and the Arts

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Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712 – 1778)

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  1. Mr. Barnett & Mr. Karlowicz University High School AP US Government 2012-2013 Jean-Jacques Rousseau(1712 – 1778)

  2. 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

  3. A Man Apart • Born in the independent city-state Geneva 1712 • Calvinist city • Son of IssacRouseau, 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

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

  7. 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

  8. Philosophy • Break with French Enlightenment • 1758 – Letter to D’Alembert on the Theater

  9. 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

  10. 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!

  11. 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?

  12. Round and Round We Go… General Will Sovereign Republic or Body Politic

  13. 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

  14. 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

  15. 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

  16. 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”

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