Rousseau The Social Contract

Rousseau's central question

How is political authority morally justified if individuals have the right to naturally exist freely?

Thesis of Rousseau's work

Society can exist under laws and regulations only if the social contract arises voluntarily through experience and not by force.

Big-picture structure of Rousseau's argument

Rousseau argues against the idea of social contract formed by force and slavery, advocating for mutual, voluntary conditions instead.

Natural liberty

Freedom inherent to individuals without external constraints.

Civil liberty

Freedom with limitations imposed by law for the common good.

General will

The collective interest of the people, which transcends individual desires.

Legitimacy

The moral justification of political authority.

Social Contract

An agreement among individuals to form a society and accept certain roles and responsibilities.

Obligation to obey laws

Rousseau argues that there is no obligation to obey laws imposed by force.

Hobbesian Contract

A concept where the strong dominate the weak, often leading to inequality and conflict.

Absolute Power

The idea that all rights, liberty, equality, and security derive from the state, which determines what is best for the community.

Common good

The benefit or interests of all members of a society.

Legitimate government

A government whose authority is recognized as morally justified by its citizens.

Educational regression problem

The cycle where good laws require good legislators, and good legislators arise from good systems, necessitating quality education.