Rousseau

How does Rousseau argue for reuniting ethics and politics? But how is it different than the classical theorists?

By making political decisions moral decisions through the general will.

What is Rousseau's definition of equality? Justice? Liberty? Role of the state? Propaganda?

Equality of rights not condition

What are some of the primary criticisms of Rousseau?

Forcing people to be free is slavery Indoctrinating people in a general will or self-interest can be antithetical to their actual self-interest.

Why is that statement, as Nelson contends, one of the most controversial statements ever made in Western Political Thought?

Forcing someone to conform to your idea of freedom is slavery.

So, why is Rousseau the Father of the French Revolution?

Gave the theoretical framework for absolutism, terrorism and tyranny to force people to be free

Rousseau connects individual interest with the public interest, through what one primary concept?

General will

How is Rousseau critical of Locke's theory of popular sovereignty? How does he replace Locke's theory?

He replaces Locke's consensual majority with an idea of popular sovereignty that legislates and is guided by the general will

How is his solution a political, rather than philosophical, one?

He uses the Legislator to craft the general will that everyone must follow.

What does Rousseau mean when he argues that the General Will "forces" us to be free?

It forces people to coincide their self-interest with the group or community interest because that is man's true free state.

Why is patriotism the connection between egoism and virtue?

It is the prime political virtue and balances man's need to please himself and others

Why is pity important to Rousseau?

It is the true nature or characteristic of man. Man is free when he can pity or empathize with fellow man.

Is Rousseau a totalitarian or a liberal?

More so a liberal but has totalitarian tendencies.

Is Rousseau a "post-modern?"

No

Is Rousseau simply Machiavelli in the Enlightenment?

Not totally, Rousseau differs from Machiavelli in that The legislator, unlike the Prince molds the social and moral fabric by forcing people to be free and reshaping their self-interest rather than catering to the people's untouched self-interest.

What is the General Will?

Perfect, unchangeable, immutable guide for the people and institutions to follow crafted by the Legislator. Unites the public interest with self-interest

What is the difference between positive and negative liberty? How is this relevant for understanding Locke, Hobbes, and Rousseau (actually all of liberalism).

Positive liberty freedom to empathize, to be free, to interact and be truly human. Rousseau uses this to engender a sense of liberation by forcing people to be free. Negative Liberty is freedom from invasion, war, property damage, and tyranny. Locke and Hobbes use this to engender a sense of needed security and reason for a either an absolute or limited monarchy.

Rousseau is a social contract theorist, but he rejects the assumptions of both Locke and Hobbes. What assumptions does he reject? Why?

Reason by itself is sufficient. Reason/Enlightenment corrupt. He also rejects the notion of natural rights, there is really no natural right for Rousseau

"Man is born free, and yet we see him everywhere in chains." How is this statement a rejection of the enlightenment assumptions of his peers? Perhaps Rousseau would like for us to return to the state of nature. Agree or disagree?

Rousseau posits that social institutions corrupt the individuals, but he would not want us to return to the state of nature because it would be the devolution of man and his capacity to truly become "free".

Why is the state of nature a critique of modern civilization, for Rousseau? And how is it a critique on the work of both Hobbes and Locke?

Rousseau's state of nature is a critique of modern civilization in that modern civilization has developed into an anarchic, decaying state because of property and power politics. This is a characteristic of the state of nature will eventually become if left unaltered and stagnant.

How do they differ and why are they both important in understanding his theory?

Sovereign embodies the general will Executive embodies the will of all or group will Small sovereign, big government

What is Rousseau's concept of the "government."

The executive, stands inherently against general will

What is Rousseau's concept of the "sovereign."?

The legislative assembly

Discuss how Rousseau distinguishes his theory from both Hobbes and Locke.

The social contract for Rousseau is supposed to transform man whereas Hobbes and Locke take that man will not really change in or out of the social contract. Furthermore, Rousseau rejects natural right and assumes that man must be forced to be free in that the state must play an active role in shaping and maintaining the public good and general will.

Define the Social Contract, for Rousseau.

The social contract is an agreement made among citizens where all lay down rights found in the state of nature and give them to each other, thereby imbuing all with some sort of autonomy or sovereignty. The Social contract is means by which man is transformed to be, in Rousseau's eyes, truly free.

"Learning and philosophy are acquired, not for their own sake, but to demonstrate one's intellectual superiority. Most seriously, civilized use their reason to produce philosophies that actually justify loss of political and personal liberty." Why would Rousseau argue this point?

The use of reason without feeling is but a means to justify corruption and enslavement of man

How are sovereignty and liberty, social order and freedom, rendered compatible, even necessary conditions for one another, to Rousseau?

There can be no liberty without sovereignty and vice versa, and there can be no social order without freedom, and vice versa.

How are reason, morals, and language socially constructed, for Rousseau? Is human nature a "social product," for Rousseau?

They are all social constructs. Human nature is not a social product.

How does Rousseau merge self-interest with the general community interest?

Through the general will and the securing of the general will through censorship, civil religion, and its byproduct: patriotism.

What is the purpose, then, of the social contract?

To transform man from primitive to sophisticated being. To remove natural liberty and imbue him with moral liberty.

In the modern state, Rousseau argues that we lost liberty. Why?

We have become selfish and obsessed with prestige, power, and property that has created mass inequality and bloodshed.

What is Rousseau's position on property? How does it differ from Locke?

While Locke sees property as a pre-existing right, Rousseau sees it simply as a social construct.

Is the state a moral entity, for Rousseau? Is it for Locke? For Hobbes? For Machiavelli?

Yes, No, no, and Yes

Rousseau understood that "a political theorist must speak in a language familiar to his readers if he expects to change their political opinions..." Agree?

Yes, through censorship and civil religion, Rousseau tries to accomplish this.

What is the best form of government, to Rousseau? (Hint: It is an inverse relationship to the size of the state.)

elective aristocracy