The example to be examined is the two works of Jean-Jacques Rousseau. First one is Discourse on the Origin of Inequality, written in 1754, and the second one is On the Social Contract, written eight years later. The question is whether Rousseau maintains his position on the social contract as a trick of the rich over the poor in the second writing just as he suggested in the first one. Moreover, the clarification of the consequences of the compact in each work is proper to discuss.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Preface
- The Position of Rousseau on the Social Contract
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This essay aims to analyze the evolution of Jean-Jacques Rousseau's ideas on the social contract, specifically comparing his perspectives as presented in "Discourse on the Origin of Inequality" and "On the Social Contract." The essay examines whether Rousseau maintains his view of the social contract as a manipulation by the wealthy over the poor in his later work.
- Rousseau's evolving views on the social contract
- The purposes and motives behind Rousseau's writings
- The consequences of different forms of the social contract
- The concept of the general will and its implications
- The relationship between reality and the ideal state
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Preface: Introduces the topic of Rousseau's evolving views on the social contract, highlighting the differences between his two major works, "Discourse on the Origin of Inequality" and "On the Social Contract." It sets the stage for examining the consistency of his position on the social contract.
- The Position of Rousseau on the Social Contract: This chapter examines Rousseau's perspective on the social contract, focusing on his concept of the general will and the potential for manipulation by the wealthy. It analyzes the different contexts of the two works, noting that "Discourse on the Origin of Inequality" serves as a stepping stone towards the broader discussion of the social compact in "On the Social Contract." The chapter argues that Rousseau's earlier view of the contract as a trick of the rich over the poor is not contradicted by his later work but rather forms a part of his broader understanding of the social compact.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The essay centers on exploring the social contract as conceptualized by Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Key themes include the general will, inequality, the relationship between the rich and the poor, the potential for manipulation, and the ideal state. The essay also touches upon the implications of the social contract for individual liberty and the functioning of a state.
- Quote paper
- Irina Wolf (Author), 2001, The position of Rousseau on the Social Contract, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/130067
