Studied by 14 people
KEY IDEAS
challenged the key assumption of modern philosophers that we have improved our condition by escaping the state of nature
reasoned that the political communities we developed had enslaved us
saw human nature itself as a work in progress
believed the foundations of hobbes’ and locke’s political theories to be false
placed our emotional capacities above our intellectual capacities
what makes us truly human is our ability to feel and be passionately committed. for rousseau, we were not merely computing and reasoning machines
we were not naturally social, political, or rational
envisioned societies as developing along unique lines in ways that were consistent with the general will if those within each society.
only by participating in the general will would we be truly free since then we would be ruling ourselves
supported direct democracy over representative democracy
participation in politics is the highest aim, wanted to see the barrier between government and citizens removed
to achieve the kind of participation he desired, rousseau envisioned an inspirational legislator whom all would wish to emulate
also suggested the primary task of society was to create public spiritedness
symbols to unite the community
believed that in order to achieve the kind of society he wanted, humans would need to become virtuous
did not think this was likely to happen anytime soon
what did rousseau object to about the ideas of hobbes and locke?
the modern regimes of hobbes and locke create economic and political inequality, resulting in rich dominating the poor and depriving them of their freedom
disagrees that the government represents the people to allow people to pursue economic activities - people are only free when directly participating in law making
governments of hobbes and locke serve a ruling class which benefit at the expense of everyone else (classic oppression)
both are unequal, cannot achieve true liberty and autonomy
there will always be people to oppress you
the ruling class doesn’t have others’ interests in mind, only their own
rousseau’s ideal for a truly free city
one that depends on the patriotism of its citizens who devote themselves completely to the community
sparta = ruled by warrior-citizens who do not like philosophy
nationalism - doing what’s best for the community, not the individual
spartan attitude towards philosophy
philosophy weakened patriotism
lures people away from public activity to pursue intellectual life
philosophy and science only flourish in societies that promote luxury - this decreases war spirit and weakens national defense
the meaning of life is derived from dying. philosophy questions loyalty and undermines the unity of the state
rousseau thought his society was weak because it accepted philosophy.
how was rousseau more radical than hobbes?
rousseau believed humans are naturally good, asocial, and arational
humans degenerated from the state of nature as they gained society and reason
idea that humans evolved
hobbes believed that humans lived in a state of war - man is only moved by self-preservation.
hobbes’ reasoning was flawed to rousseau; by his own logic the state of nature would be the most appropriate
rousseau’s vision of the primitive man in the state of nature
nascent: without industry, without speech, without domicile, without war, without liaisons
no desire to harm others or follow them, may not even recognize them individually
naturally good
only concerned with basic needs; little communication
people are almost entirely independent and any sexual desire is purely physical, no emotions attached
all associations are temporary - no ability to form lasting relationships or memories
the state of nature is inherently good because it should be consistent with the point of living.
l’amour de soi-meme vs l’amour propre
l’amour de soi-meme
the love of oneself, found among natural men
no need to compare oneself to others
feeling the sentiment of the moment, love of life
l’amour propre
vanity found among civilized men
pride of the socialized man who derives his self esteem from thinking himself superior to others
product of failing, excessive devotion to oneself
does rousseau see human nature as evolutionary?
yes
suggested man evolved from apes
proposed to test this by attempting to breed orangutans with humans
nascent man
nascent society (ideal)
nascent inequality (present)
nascent government
does the work of sahlins support or refute rousseau’s view? - nascent society is superior to present civilization
generally supports
in a more primitive society, peoples’ means for getting their wants are limited but peoples’ wants are also limited in nature
because people want less, they can fulfill their needs more quickly and have more time for leisure
they are more free than modern people who have wants that are always greater than what they can have
in a primitive society, men are free from domination because they are roughly equal in wealth and there isn’t a significant wealth disparity
at what stage in their evolution did people lose most of their freedom according to rousseau?
once society became agricultural (when people stopped hunting/gathering and started farming)
agricultural way of life created inequality of property and a distinction between rich and poor
wealth inequality created a state of war between rich and poor
the rich convinced the poor to create a society with an equal rule of law that would protect the rich, which destroyed natural freedom for all
the government is always going to oppress
corresponds with nascent inequality in rousseau’s evolution
when people have unequal distribution of wealth and resources
what is the way to ensure men would no longer be dominated by others in our modern world according to rousseau?
create a society where the people themselves are the only sovereign authority
everyone is equally subject to the rule of law and society is small enough that everyone’s wills can be united into a single general will
substitute law for man and have a general will rather than a number of individual specific wills
group together into communities that share the same values
citizens become the government, one body
different people have different values so they will come together to form like-minded communities - precursor to nationalism
governed in a way that is consistent with their nature
believed in consensus - the community has an obligation to force people to do what they believe is best
what is required in order to achieve participatory democracy according to rousseau?
the individuals share in the social decisions determining the quality and direction of their life
society should be organized to encourage independence in men and provide the media for their participation
public spirited citizens - people who are actually interested in building community
HR: how did they define freedom?
Hobbes:
freedom is giving individual rights to an absolute dictator so everyone’s rights are protected
people are innately greedy and power-seeking
negative freedom: make the best choices for yourselves to make the best choices for the community
Rousseau:
everyone should have rights protected by the state
humans are innately good but not protected from selfish people
positive freedom: you are only free if you can make the right choices
community makes choices to allow people to make the best choices for themselves
how does the prisoner dilemma relate to roussesau’s ideas?
people are better off if they can cooperate in seeking their collective interest and trust that one will not out the other. when each seeks his individual interest, both suffer
coming together to make decisions can be in our collective interest
rousseau and patriotism
supportive of developing patriotism and emotional commitment in society
everyone should do their duties and love each other, the community, fellow citizens
wouldn’t be supportive of citizens who wanted to run away from fighting for their country (unlike hobbes)
could napoleon be of potential use in realizing rousseau’s ideal society?
yes, rousseau would see napoleon as a potential god-like figure who serves as the exemplary figure for society to strive to be
embody the values of that particular society
patriotism - be like the figure for the betterment of the community
inspires people to build the community that they are working for
why is rousseau critical of indirect democracy?
if the people are the sovereign authority, they must make the fundamental laws
they cannot delegate their lawmaking authority
how to reconcile individual freedom and political authority?
only a participatory society can be legitimate if the only legitimate social order is a voluntary association
people are only free when electing their government.
why are true democracies constrained by size according to rousseau?
the principle of direct participation by all citizens becomes increasingly unachievable as the size of the state grows
people should be easily able to assemble which they cannot do in a large community
what is rousseau’s civil religion?
form of public faith established by the sovereign, promoting dogmas essential to social duties
purpose is to maintain social unity and minimize internal divisions by aligning religious and political duties
the religion has to be whatever the community values
in what ways does the US fall short of rousseau’s true democracy?
US values separation of church and state, potentially allowing for religious values that may contradict civil religion dogmas
shows elements of civil religion in politcal rhetoric and documents, yet still maintains a separation of church and state
preference and bias toward specific religions
size - too large
divides power
attached to individual rights over responsibility to the community
why didn’t rousseau believe that his true democracy was achievable?
it was impractical
some people are apolitical, people aren’t public spirited enough
opens the door for social engineering
requires unattainable levels of civic virtue
people are selfish and everyone has different needs, so in the end it’s hard to agree on everything
those in power distort laws for personal gain - there will always be corruption
negative freedom
getting rid of external obstacles to make the best decisions for yourself
assumes you know where you want to go and you can make appropriate decisions
focus on the individual
what do we do about those who need help?
positive freedom
providing something to ensure the best decisions can be made
assumes guidance or self-control is required for you to make the best choices
focus more so on the helper (could be self)
what do we do with those who do not want to support?
rousseau’s evolution
nascent man
nascent society
nascent inequality
nascent government
nascent man
we all live independently
no one dominates anyone else
blissfully ignorant (stupid)
asocial and arational
nascent society
society at its happiest - rousseau’s ideal
experience the joys of family, eventually become too attached and can’t give it up
outward love turns into a need to be celebrated and validated
we eventually become vain and need the affections of others
we desire recognition
nascent inequality
clear distinctions between rich and poor arise
we come into increasing conflict
thought this was hobbes’ state of nature (wrong)
current society
nascent government
origins of feudal society
government serves its own interests at the costs of others
future society
Note
Flashcard