“Man is born free and, and everywhere he is in chains. One believes himself the other’s master,
and yet is more a slave than they. How did this change come about? I do not know. What can it
make legitimate? I believe I can solve this.”1
Regarding this quoted statement, Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s Of the Social Contract or Principles
of Political Right (in the following referred to as the Social Contract) of 1762 tries to
explain and solve the problems of the society Rousseau lived in with the idea of a somewhat
direct democracy and a radical popular sovereignty. Accordingly, the author’s theory
is the counterpart to the early liberal Montesquieuian model of a state with a binding constitution,
but also to the later classical liberal theories of democracy of John Stuart Mill. In
general, Rousseau is known as a representative of the concept of direct democracy and as
an intercessor of the identity of governors and the governed. Moreover, he pledged for the
inseparability of popular sovereignty. 2
Taking this into consideration, Rousseau’s Social Contract – although censored and
prohibited in his own time – remains a key source of democratic belief and is one of the
classics of political theory. His theories were viewed so controversially that they were even
publicly burned. So, the Social Contract and Emile or on Education (1762) became victims
of the flames.3 This was, because basically, the Social Contract argues, that
“the first and the most important consequences of the principles established so far is that the
general will [volonté générale] alone can direct the forces of the state according to the end of its
institution, which is the common good.”4
1 Jean-Jacques Rousseau: The Social Contract and Other Later Political Writings, edited and translated by
Victor Gourevitch, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press (Cambridge Texts in the History of Political
Thought), 1997, Book I, p. 41.
2 Manfred G. Schmidt: Demokratietheorien. Eine Einführung, 2. Auflage, Opladen: Leske + Budrich, 1997,
pp. 23-24.
3 Merle L. Perkins: Jean-Jacques Rousseau on the Individual and Society, Lexington: University Press of
Kentucky, 1974, p. 239.
4 Rousseau: The Social Contract, Book II, p. 57.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Some Biographical Facts and Rousseau’s Works
3. The State of Nature
4. The Social Contract as a Concept for Society and Government
4.1 The Development of Society
4.2 The Social Contract as a Counterpart
4.2.1 Freedom and Equality
4.2.2 Various Forms of Government and the General Will
4.2.3 The Legislator and the Composition of Government
5. Concluding Remarks: Can the Social Contract Stand the ‘Test of Reality’?
Objectives and Themes
This study aims to analyze Jean-Jacques Rousseau's political philosophy, specifically his "Social Contract", by examining how he addresses the tension between individual freedom and the necessity of legitimate government. The research explores whether his theoretical model can reconcile natural human liberty with the structures of a modern state, ultimately questioning the practical viability of his radical popular sovereignty.
- Rousseau’s concept of the state of nature and human potential.
- The role of the "General Will" in shaping legitimate government.
- The paradox of freedom and subordination in a social contract.
- The function and risks associated with the role of the Legislator.
- Critical evaluation of Rousseau’s ideal state versus real-world political structures.
Excerpt from the Book
The Legislator and the Composition of Government
It is Rousseau himself who somewhat does not trust the people to determine the conditions of society. So he asks how the people will regulate them: “Will it be by common agreement, by sudden inspiration? Has the body politic an organ to state its wills? Who will give it the foresight necessary to form its acts and to publish them in advance, or how will it declare them in time of need? How will a blind multitude, which often does not know what it wills because it rarely knows what is good for it, carry out an undertaking as great, as difficult as a system of legislation? By itself, the people always wills the good, but by itself it does not always see it. The general will is always upright, but the judgment which guides it is not always enlightened.”
As a conclusion, people are no Gods. They are certainly not flawless. Rousseau sees clearly that although the general will cannot err, it is not always right. People need to be guided in order to find the right way of decision-making. Therefore, Rousseau justifies the establishment of a person who can easily manipulate the people without them even recognizing this process.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: The introduction outlines the foundational problem of human freedom and introduces Rousseau’s "Social Contract" as a proposed solution through direct democracy and popular sovereignty.
2. Some Biographical Facts and Rousseau’s Works: This chapter provides a brief biographical overview, contextualizing Rousseau’s intellectual development and the influence of his earlier works on his later political theories.
3. The State of Nature: The authors examine Rousseau’s interpretation of the original state of nature as a peaceful, pre-social condition, contrasting it with the Hobbesian view of perpetual conflict.
4. The Social Contract as a Concept for Society and Government: This core section analyzes the mechanisms of the social pact, the nature of the General Will, and the structural requirements for a legitimate state, including the specific roles of the legislator and the government.
5. Concluding Remarks: Can the Social Contract Stand the ‘Test of Reality’?: The final chapter provides a critical assessment of the utopian nature of Rousseau's theory, questioning its practical implementation in complex modern societies.
Keywords
Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Social Contract, General Will, Popular Sovereignty, State of Nature, Amour Propre, Political Philosophy, Direct Democracy, Legislator, Government, Freedom, Equality, Political Theory, Legitimate Society, Collective Body.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper examines Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s political theory, specifically focusing on how his concept of the "Social Contract" attempts to reconcile individual liberty with the necessity of living in a structured, governed society.
What are the central themes discussed in the work?
Key themes include the transformation from the state of nature to civil society, the defining characteristics and role of the "General Will," the relationship between the sovereign and the government, and the concept of popular sovereignty.
What is the primary research goal?
The primary goal is to critically evaluate Rousseau’s political model to see if it provides a viable and legitimate framework for government, or if it remains a utopian vision that fails to account for human nature and complex power structures.
Which scientific methods or approaches are applied?
The authors employ a textual analysis of Rousseau’s primary writings, including "The Social Contract", "Second Discourse", and "Emile", supplemented by a comparative perspective involving Thomas Hobbes’s "Leviathan".
What does the main body of the text cover?
The main body covers the development of society, the essential requirements for freedom and equality, the definitions and risks of various forms of government, and the unique, paradoxical role of the "Legislator" in structuring a state.
Which keywords characterize this analysis?
Essential keywords include General Will, Popular Sovereignty, Amour Propre, State of Nature, Social Contract, and Political Legitimacy.
Why does Rousseau consider the "Legislator" to be a necessary, yet problematic, figure?
Rousseau recognizes that a "blind multitude" may not always understand what is truly good for the community. The Legislator acts as a "superhuman" guide who establishes the foundation of the state, but he is inherently problematic because he can easily manipulate the masses to follow his own particular will.
How does the paper conclude regarding the practical application of Rousseau’s theory?
The authors conclude that while Rousseau’s idea of the "General Will" is a noble political concept intended to include every member of society, his ideal model is ultimately utopian and difficult to implement, suggesting that representative systems are more realistic given the flaws inherent in human power dynamics.
- Quote paper
- Andrea Becker (Author), Maren Reyelt (Author), 2001, Jean Jaques Rousseau's Concept of Society and Government: A Study of the Social Contract, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/27060
