Rousseau - PHIL 1502

Page 1: The Social Contract

• Author: Jean-Jacques Rousseau

• Citation: The Social Contract and the First and Second Discourses, edited by Susan Dunn, Yale University Press, 2002.

• Quote Reference: Aeneid, Bk. XI - "Let us make fair terms for the compact."

Page 2: Prefatory Note

• Treatise from an earlier, larger work.

• Selected fragments deemed most substantial.

• Original longer work no longer exists.

Page 3: Book I Introductory Note

• Inquiry into establishing justice and reliability in civil administration.

• Strives to reconcile justice and utility without contradiction.

• Author identifies as neither prince nor legislator, writing from the perspective of a citizen.

• Emphasizes the duty of citizens to engage with government matters.

Page 4: Chapter 1 - Subject of the First Book

• Quote: "Man was born free, and everywhere he is in chains."

• Discussion on legitimacy of social order and its formation through conventions.

• Idea that social order is a sacred right not derived from nature.

• Family as the natural society, with eventual independence of its members.

• Models political societies based on family dynamics.

Page 5: Chapter II - Primitive Societies

• Family as the earliest and only natural society; bonds are contractual and not inherent.

• The leader analogous to the father; citizens as children.

Page 6: Chapter III - The Right of the Strongest

• Discussion of force and its relationship to moral obligation.

• Assertion that might does not equate to right; obedience derived from duty, not fear.

• Examines legitimacy of authority based on social contract versus force.

Page 7: Chapter V - Necessity of First Convention

• Distinction between subjugation versus governance of a society.

• The act of becoming a people is fundamental to establishing authority.

• Importance of prior conventions for just governance and individual rights.

Page 8: Chapter VI - The Social Pact

• Description of the transition from the state of nature to civil society.

• Social contract aims to protect individual rights while maintaining community order.

• Concept of total alienation of rights to achieve equality in the social contract.

Page 9: The Sovereign

• Each member’s dual role towards the sovereign and the state.

• Sovereign represents collective interests, thus cannot bind itself.

• Discussion on mutual obligations between citizens and the sovereign.

Page 10: The Relation of Subjects to the Sovereign

• Need for laws to ensure obligations and fidelity among citizens.

• Justification of individual constraints to maintain civil order and protect collective welfare.

Page 11: The Civil State

• Transitioning behavior from instinct to justice; moral obligation introduced.

• Comparison of natural liberty versus civil liberty, with emphasis on moral freedom.

Page 12: Real Estate

• Explanation of property rights established by the social contract.

• Public possession as more secure due to state enforcement contrasted with individual rights.

• Right of first occupancy explained, alongside the limit of personal ownership.

Page 13: Book II - Chapter I: Sovereignty is Inalienable

• Sovereignty as the expression of general will, directed towards common good.

• Sovereignty cannot be alienated as it embodies collective will, not individual.

Page 14: Chapter IV - Limits of Sovereign Power

• Sovereign’s primary function is self-preservation, deriving authority from collective agreement.

• Clarification of individual versus sovereign rights and responsibilities.

Page 15: The Social Compact and Civil Associations

• Justifications for governmental authority through the social contract.

• Importance of reciprocal relations and obligations within the state.

Page 16: The Law

• Examination of the nature of laws and their foundation in general will.

• Laws must apply collectively and focus on common interests rather than individual issues.

Page 17: General Will Indestructible

• The general will persists even amidst societal failures.

• Importance of common interest for unity and effective governance.

Page 18: Limits of Application of Laws

• Law's general nature focuses on subjectivity within the collective.

• Laws created based on collective input; individual exceptions are not legitimate.

Page 19: Voting and the Body Politic

• Assessment of public voting as reflection of the state’s health.

• Relevance of general will in voting processes and civil engagement.

Page 20: Freedom and Authority

• Discussion of how laws maintain collective freedom while imposing order.

• Distinction between individual will and general will;

• Engagement with the social compact as maintaining autonomy.

The Social Contract by Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Author:

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Citation:

The Social Contract and the First and Second Discourses, edited by Susan Dunn, Yale University Press, 2002.

Quote Reference:

"Let us make fair terms for the compact." - Aeneid, Bk. XI

Prefatory Note:

• Treatise consists of selected fragments from an earlier, now lost, larger work. These fragments are viewed as the most significant contributions.

Book I:

Introductory Note:

• Seeks to establish justice and reliability in civil administration. Aims to reconcile justice and utility harmoniously.

• Written from the perspective of a citizen rather than a ruler, emphasizing the civic responsibility to engage in governance.

Chapter 1 - Subject of the First Book:

• Quotes, "Man was born free, and everywhere he is in chains." Discusses the legitimacy of social order formed through conventions, asserting that social order is a sacred right, separate from nature.

• Models political societies based on family dynamics, viewing the family as the natural societal unit.

Chapter II - Primitive Societies:

• Describes the family as the earliest natural society; highlights that relationships are contractual rather than inherent, paralleling leaders with fathers and citizens with children.

Chapter III - The Right of the Strongest:

• Explores the distinction between might and right, stating that true obedience stems from duty, not fear. Questions the legitimacy of authority based on social contract versus sheer force.

Chapter V - Necessity of First Convention:

• Clarifies the difference between subjugation and governance; emphasizes the act of becoming a cohesive people as essential for authority and governance.

Chapter VI - The Social Pact:

• Details the transition from a state of nature to civil society; the social contract seeks to protect individual rights while maintaining order within the community, advocating for total rights alienation for equality.

The Sovereign:

• Each member's dual obligations to both the sovereign and the state. The sovereign embodies collective interests, and mutual obligations govern citizen-sovereign relations.

The Relation of Subjects to the Sovereign:

• Outlines the need for laws to ensure citizens' obligations and fidelity; justifies individual constraints to uphold civil order and protect communal welfare.

The Civil State:

• Discusses the transition from instinctive behavior to a morally governed society; contrasts natural liberty with civil liberty, emphasizing moral freedom.

Real Estate:

• Examines property rights within the social contract, noting public ownership is more secure due to state enforcement, and outlines the limitations of individual rights.

Book II:

Chapter I: Sovereignty is Inalienable:

• Defines sovereignty as the expression of the general will, directed towards the common good, and asserts it cannot be transferred as it represents collective will.

Chapter IV - Limits of Sovereign Power:

• States the sovereign's primary role is self-preservation, drawing authority from collective agreement; distinguishes between individual and sovereign rights.

The Social Compact and Civil Associations:

• Justifies governmental authority through the social contract, stressing reciprocal relations and obligations among state members.

The Law:

• Analyzes the nature of laws, asserting they should reflect the general will, collectively applicable and focused on common interests.

General Will Indestructible:

• The persistence of the general will is vital for societal cohesion, emphasizing the importance of common interests for unity and effective governance.

Limits of Application of Laws:

• Discusses the subjective nature of laws concerning the collective, stressing the validity of laws arises from collective input without individual exceptions.

Voting and the Body Politic:

• Investigates public voting as an indicator of the state's health and the integration of general will in civic engagement processes.

Freedom and Authority:

• Explores how laws preserve collective freedom while enforcing order, distinguishing between individual will and general will as essential for maintaining autonomy within the social compact.