rousseau final exam concepts

the state of nature

state of existence of humans before civilization, society, and government

the development of society and civilization

when people start to live together

• private property

• interpersonal comparisons

  • people notice what others have

• inequality

• vice and corruption

  • jealousy and greed not natural, only happens when we live together

• loss of independence

  • start to depend on others

• positive benefits

  • refinement, development, industry

liberty

freedom

• natural liberty

  • unlimited right to whatever we can do

• civil liberty (autonomy)

  • subject to laws we made ourselves

• moral liberty

  • freedom from impulse of appetite

• property

  • protection of personal possessions from community

the sovereign and sovereignty

source of legit power in republic (citizens)

sovereignty

• power to make the laws under which people will live

• inalienable

  • can’t give it up and can’t take it away

  • can’t be given to representatives

• indivisible

  • all citizens acting together are sovereign

the general will

decision-making collective will of citizens

• only considers common interests and good (whats advantageous to public)

the “government”

the sovereign (will) is not part of the “government”

• the government (force) enforces the will that the citizens created (executive and judicial functions)

the “legislator”

recomments original institutions and laws (people must still vote on theses)

• not part of government or social contract (sovereign)

• must create community

• substitute natural physical and independent existence with the partial and moral existence of civil society