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The Social Contract
Censored in its own time, The Social Contract (1762) remains a key source of democratic belief and is one of the classics of political theory. It argues concisely but eloquently, that the basis of any legitimate society must be the agreement of its members. As humans we were `born free' and our subjection to government must be freely accepted.
Rousseau is essentially a radical thinker, and in a broad sense a revolutionary. He insisted on the sovereignty of the people, and made some provocative statements that are still highly controversial. His greatest contribution to political thought is the concept of the general will, which unites individuals through their common self-interest, thus validating the society in which they live and the constraints it imposes on them.
This new translation is fully annotated and indexed. The volume also contains the opening chapter of the manuscript version of the Contract, together with the long article, Discourse on Political Economy, a work traditionally between the Contract and Rousseau's earlier masterpiece, The Discourse on Inequality.
Rousseau is essentially a radical thinker, and in a broad sense a revolutionary. He insisted on the sovereignty of the people, and made some provocative statements that are still highly controversial. His greatest contribution to political thought is the concept of the general will, which unites individuals through their common self-interest, thus validating the society in which they live and the constraints it imposes on them.
This new translation is fully annotated and indexed. The volume also contains the opening chapter of the manuscript version of the Contract, together with the long article, Discourse on Political Economy, a work traditionally between the Contract and Rousseau's earlier masterpiece, The Discourse on Inequality.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 21, 1999
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About the author
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
4,715 books2,958 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 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 11, 2022
You might need to read it twice to understand it. I know I did!
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September 20, 2012I read this one for university and as a first reading of it, this was a very shallow read. I really like Rousseau, and warmed to him instantly and I think, although it is irrelvant, his good nature shines through his prose.
I'm not going to give this a rating or a review because I think I'm in academic essay mode, as opposed to enjoyment/leisure mode, and I have plently of essays to come. What I will say, is that of the two essays, The Politcal Economny was my favourite.
It's funny that the last 100 pages or so are an appendix and notes, and so i finished this a lot sooner than I thought I would.
I'm not going to give this a rating or a review because I think I'm in academic essay mode, as opposed to enjoyment/leisure mode, and I have plently of essays to come. What I will say, is that of the two essays, The Politcal Economny was my favourite.
It's funny that the last 100 pages or so are an appendix and notes, and so i finished this a lot sooner than I thought I would.
August 22, 2020
“The social contract”, liberalism is a very stupid idea. Liberty...I think it is time modern people abandon this stupid idea. Liberalism does not exist. All men are free in a modern liberal democratic society and yet all are in slavery. A slave to money, a slave to drugs and alcohol addictions, a slave to misery, a slave to suicide. The modern liberal lifestyle is another form of bondage, Liberty does not exist. Nobody has freedom. “The Social Contract” heavily influenced the American and French Revolution, one living in a modern liberal democratic society, the book is describing modern society. The ideas of tolerance, separation of church and state, individual liberty, yawn, freedom does not exist.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau criticizes the Christian promise of a better life in heaven. Maybe, Jean-Jacques Rousseau should have listen more closely to the Christians rather than set up a state base upon total self interest. The world is empty, let’s focus on heaven.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau criticizes the Christian promise of a better life in heaven. Maybe, Jean-Jacques Rousseau should have listen more closely to the Christians rather than set up a state base upon total self interest. The world is empty, let’s focus on heaven.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews