Jean Jacques Rousseau: The Social Contract

Flashcards developed from lecture notes on Jean Jacques Rousseau's theory of the social contract, covering essential vocabulary and concepts.

Social Contract

An agreement among members of a society to cooperate for social benefits, defining the rights and duties of the community.

General Will

The collective will of the citizen body that aims for the common good of society as a whole.

Sovereignty

The authority of a state to govern itself or another state; it encompasses the absolute power of governing without external interference.

Indivisible Sovereignty

The principle that sovereignty cannot be divided among different parties and must reside with a single authority.

Alienation of Rights

The process by which individuals give up certain rights in exchange for protection and benefits of the community.

Natural Rights

Rights that individuals are said to have under natural law, often identified as life, liberty, and property.

Civil State

A state of society under an organized government which protects and regulates the rights and responsibilities of its members.

Duty and Interest

The obligation of individuals to support the common good with their actions and contributions for mutual benefit.

Legitimate Possession

The recognition by the community that an individual has rightful ownership of goods and property.

Moral Person of the State

The conceptual entity of the State which represents collective interests rather than individual ones.

Political Machinery

The structures and processes by which a government operates and enforces laws.

Public Good

The benefit or well-being of the general public, as opposed to individual interests.

Citizenship

The status of being a member of a state with associated rights and responsibilities.

Civil Religion

A set of beliefs, symbols, and rituals that binds the citizens of a state, promoting loyalty to the community.

Banishment

The act of expelling someone from a state or community for offenses against societal norms.

Private and Public Person

The distinction between the individual as a personal entity and their role or obligations as a citizen.

Legislative Power

The authority of a governing body to make laws and impose obligations on citizens.

Executive Power

The authority to enforce laws and manage the affairs of the state.

Recreation of the Social Body

The idea of reassembling individual interests into a collective will after they have been separated.

Laziness and Money

Concepts that can lead citizens to evade their duties and responsibilities in a civil society.

Intolerance

An unwillingness to accept views, beliefs, or behaviors that differ from one’s own, banned in civil religion.