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The Government of Poland
"The Government of Poland is the only finished work in which Rousseau himself dons the mantle of legislator, applying the principles of the Social Contract to the real world around him. Poland teaches us much about the mysterious art of the Social Contract's 'legislator,' how he transforms each individual into part of a larger whole. Only in . . . Poland do we find what this crucial transformation entails and what it presupposes. But probably the greatest lesson to be learned from . . . Poland concerns Rousseau's understanding of the proper relationship between theory and practice. . . . Time and again we see Rousseau advising the Poles to do things which are in gross violation of the strict principles of political right he had elaborated in the Social Contract." --Richard Myers in Canadian Journal of Political Science
157 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1972
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About the author
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
4,715 books2,957 followersGenevan philosopher and writer Jean Jacques Rousseau held that society usually corrupts the essentially good individual; his works include
The Social Contract
and
Émile
(both 1762).
This important figure in the history contributed to political and moral psychology and influenced later thinkers. Own firmly negative view saw the post-hoc rationalizers of self-interest, apologists for various forms of tyranny, as playing a role in the modern alienation from natural impulse of humanity to compassion. The concern to find a way of preserving human freedom in a world of increasingly dependence for the satisfaction of their needs dominates work. This concerns a material dimension and a more important psychological dimensions. Rousseau a fact that in the modern world, humans come to derive their very sense of self from the opinions as corrosive of freedom and destructive of authenticity. In maturity, he principally explores the first political route, aimed at constructing institutions that allow for the co-existence of equal sovereign citizens in a community; the second route to achieving and protecting freedom, a project for child development and education, fosters autonomy and avoids the development of the most destructive forms of self-interest. Rousseau thinks or the possible co-existence of humans in relations of equality and freedom despite his consistent and overwhelming pessimism that humanity will escape from a dystopia of alienation, oppression, and unfreedom. In addition to contributions, Rousseau acted as a composer, a music theorist, the pioneer of modern autobiography, a novelist, and a botanist. Appreciation of the wonders of nature and his stress on the importance of emotion made Rousseau an influence on and anticipator of the romantic movement. To a very large extent, the interests and concerns that mark his work also inform these other activities, and contributions of Rousseau in ostensibly other fields often serve to illuminate his commitments and arguments.
This important figure in the history contributed to political and moral psychology and influenced later thinkers. Own firmly negative view saw the post-hoc rationalizers of self-interest, apologists for various forms of tyranny, as playing a role in the modern alienation from natural impulse of humanity to compassion. The concern to find a way of preserving human freedom in a world of increasingly dependence for the satisfaction of their needs dominates work. This concerns a material dimension and a more important psychological dimensions. Rousseau a fact that in the modern world, humans come to derive their very sense of self from the opinions as corrosive of freedom and destructive of authenticity. In maturity, he principally explores the first political route, aimed at constructing institutions that allow for the co-existence of equal sovereign citizens in a community; the second route to achieving and protecting freedom, a project for child development and education, fosters autonomy and avoids the development of the most destructive forms of self-interest. Rousseau thinks or the possible co-existence of humans in relations of equality and freedom despite his consistent and overwhelming pessimism that humanity will escape from a dystopia of alienation, oppression, and unfreedom. In addition to contributions, Rousseau acted as a composer, a music theorist, the pioneer of modern autobiography, a novelist, and a botanist. Appreciation of the wonders of nature and his stress on the importance of emotion made Rousseau an influence on and anticipator of the romantic movement. To a very large extent, the interests and concerns that mark his work also inform these other activities, and contributions of Rousseau in ostensibly other fields often serve to illuminate his commitments and arguments.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 15, 2017
I had to read this for my history class, and it was surprisingly more enjoyable than I thought it would be.
Read
April 14, 2020Rousseau on nationalism.
October 28, 2025
Całkiem ciekawe jak taka postać jak Rousseau miała pomysł na Polskę (szczególnie dotyczący wychowania patriotów).
June 14, 2025
Rousseau's three great works are: Political Economy, Social Contract, and Considerations.
Considerations was nearer the end of his life (1772): he died in in 1778.
There is an interesting theory that the audience of Considerations is not just Poland. That is, Considerations is the implementation of the ideas of the social contract in the Social Contract (a la Plato's Republic with Plato's Laws).
There are some differences between Considerations and Social Contract: for example, education! And there is lots of emphasis on Poland as a nation.
It is a good read and probably my favourite line is this: 'You may not prevent them from swallowing you up; see to it at least that they will not be able to digest you'!.
Considerations was nearer the end of his life (1772): he died in in 1778.
There is an interesting theory that the audience of Considerations is not just Poland. That is, Considerations is the implementation of the ideas of the social contract in the Social Contract (a la Plato's Republic with Plato's Laws).
There are some differences between Considerations and Social Contract: for example, education! And there is lots of emphasis on Poland as a nation.
It is a good read and probably my favourite line is this: 'You may not prevent them from swallowing you up; see to it at least that they will not be able to digest you'!.
November 22, 2016
Read for class
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews