8. Rousseau

Jean Jacques Rousseau

Swiss political theorist from Geneva.

Savage vs. Civilized

Rousseau defended the natural man against civilization.

Jean Jacques Rousseau

Swiss political theorist from Geneva.

Savage vs. Civilized

Rousseau defended the natural man against civilization.

General Will

Collective will of the community in governance.

The Social Contract

Rousseau's seminal work on political theory.

Discourse on Inequality

Rousseau's analysis of social inequality origins.

Noble Savage

Concept of natural man in innocence.

Human Nature

Man is inherently good, corrupted by society.

Self-Preservation

Desire for survival and self-interest.

Capacity for Sympathy

Ability to care for others' interests.

Private Property

Artificial construct leading to societal corruption.

Violence and Oppression

Consequences of private property in society.

Civic Virtue

Importance of morals and virtues in governance.

Participatory Democracy

Citizens directly involved in lawmaking.

Social Comparison

Judgment of individuals based on others' standards.

Corruption of Innocence

Society's impact on man's natural goodness.

Political Society

Community structure that restores lost virtue.

Technology Development

Advancement that led to societal complexity.

Critique of Modernity

Rousseau's view on civilization's oppressive nature.

Theater of Society

Life as a performance judged by others.

Economic Inequality

Political theory addressing disparities in wealth.

Natural Man

State of innocence before societal corruption.

Rousseau's Legacy

Influence on modern political thought and theory.

Socialized Selfishness

Egoism reinforced by societal development.

Moral Corruption

Loss of virtue due to materialism.

Community Ownership

Vision of shared land instead of private property.

Rousseau vs. Locke

Differing views on property and government roles.

Political Freedom

Balancing individual rights and societal order.