Chapter 7: Jean-Jacques Rousseau: Political Philosophy Without Politics

First Discourse

Rousseau's initial work critiquing modernity and its values.

challenge to scientific rationalism

His argument that excessive reliance on reason undermines moral life.

Madame de Warens and Thérèse Le Vasseur

Influential figures in Rousseau's early development.

Social Contract

Rousseau's theory that legitimate political authority arises from a collective agreement.

influence on the French Revolution

The profound impact of Rousseau's ideas on revolutionary movements.

Allan Bloom on Rousseau

A critic noting Rousseau's enduring influence on Western thought.

Second Discourse (On Inequality)

Rousseau's exploration of the origins of social and economic inequality.

state of nature

His idealized vision of human existence before societal corruption.

Rousseau's view of the earliest human

The belief that early humans were naturally compassionate and unspoiled.

loss of real felicity

The idea that civilization's progress has come at the cost of genuine human happiness.

social contract theories

The broader set of ideas on forming political communities through mutual agreements.

perfectibility (man's capacity for self-transformation)

Rousseau's notion that while humans can improve, it also leads to discontent.

Immanuel Kant

The philosopher influenced by Rousseau's ideas on morality and autonomy.

fatal accident: agriculture and metallurgy

Rousseau's claim that these inventions initiated social inequality.

property

His critique of how private ownership corrupts and leads to injustice.

no escape from history

The idea that individuals are inevitably shaped by historical forces.

rejection of natural law

Rousseau's skepticism about universally discoverable moral principles.

romantic revolt

His influence on the Romantic movement, which emphasized emotion and individual experience.

Karl Marx

The later thinker influenced by Rousseau's critique of inequality.

origin of injustice in civil society

Rousseau's argument that modern institutions are the source of social inequity.

illegitimacy of existing governments

His view that established political orders are inherently flawed.

the general will

The collective interest that should guide legitimate law and policy.

Émile

Rousseau's treatise on education, outlining how citizens should be nurtured for civic life.

the Legislator

The ideal political figure who shapes the general will into effective law.

pedagogical functions of law

Rousseau's belief that law should serve to educate and form moral citizens.

Constitutional Project for Corsica

A specific proposal by Rousseau for establishing a new constitutional order.

oath

The solemn pledge Rousseau viewed as essential for binding citizens to the social contract.

discrepancy between the most influential 18C thinker and his greatest political achievement

The tension between Rousseau's theoretical brilliance and his practical political impact.

cult of Progress

The prevailing belief in continual improvement that Rousseau both critiqued and influenced.

patriotic civil religion

His idea of a secular faith uniting citizens around common values.

Julie and the romantic literary genre

References to Rousseau's impact on literature and the emergence of Romanticism.

ressentiment (resentment, wounded vanity)

A concept explaining the emotional roots of social discontent.

awakening of emotional sympathies

The powerful effect Rousseau's writings have on stirring deep, empathetic responses.