Key Terms - Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Commercial Society

The emerging capitalist society observed by Rousseau, favoured as it was held together through trade, not fear of a sovereign or a utopian belief in Christian love.

However, he also saw it as lacking morality, and leading to domestic inequality and international warfare.

The Fénelon Problem

The paradox that while despotism and inequality are both problems, decentralised government leads to increased inequality while efforts to curb inequality often lead to despotism. Rousseau sought to solve this problem.

Positive right

An artificial form of rights, in which rights such as wealth, power, and authority are grounded. Juxtaposed with natural right.

The Pure State of Nature

That of humanity prior to original sin, an area of natural goodness in which animals satisfy their needs with ease and are in balance with nature. Essentially the manifestation of unadulterated divine will.

The Historical State of Nature

That of nascent society, in which a golden mean is reached between Pure nature and society. Rousseau uses the example of ‘savage’ peoples. It is an equal proportion of the natural and the artificial.

The New State of Nature

The fruit of an excess of consumption - the beginning of the condition in which we now find oureselves.

*Amour de Soi*

A natural form of self-love which inclines every animal to guarantee its self-preservation. Guided by reason and modified by pity, it produced virtue.

*Amour-propre*

An artificial form of self-love. It is relative, inclining individuals to do better than others, and inspires men with the evils they do to one another. It is born out of society.