Jean Jacques Rousseau

Term Paper # 100525

Political Science > Political Theory

A look at how Jean Jacques Rousseau and his version of the social contract characterize what modern and modernity is.

3,889 words () | 6 sources | APA | 2007 Philippines

Paper Summary:

This paper examines three concepts in the political philosophy of Rousseau. Firstly, the concept of the state of nature and inequality according to Rousseau is discussed. Secondly, the paper looks at the transition to the civil state and lastly, it discusses the notion of Rousseau's proposed government. The paper further demonstrates how these three parts are the main components of Rousseau's thoughts on what we may call modern or modernity.

Outline:
Introduction
State of Nature and Inequality
Towards the Civil State
Government
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"The government for Rousseau must be proportionally stronger than the people; therefore, it must not be very strong and neither very weak in its relation to the people. It must be just proportionally strong. The basis of the size of the state is one of his main principles in classifying the governments, since "the number of the supreme magistrates should be in inverse ratio to that of the citizens, it follows that in general, democratic government is suitable to small states, aristocracy to those of moderate size, and monarchy to large ones"(Social Contract, Book III, p. 58) therefore, the perfect type of government need not be a conformity to a single notion of a perfect government, because "all governments are not of the same nature" (Social Contract, Book III, p. 72). There could be a different and unique type of government suited for a particular state. Thus, not only may different governments be good for different peoples, but for the same people at different times. (Social Contract, Book III, p. 51) and each of his described governments is the best in certain areas, and worst in others (Social Contract, Book III, p. 58)."

Sample of Sources Used:

Cahoone L. E. (1996). From modernism to postmodernism : an anthology. Malden, MA:Blackwell.
Cranston, M. W. (1991). The noble savage : Jean-Jacques Rousseau, 1754-1762. Chicago:University of Chicago Press.
Delue, S.M. (1997). Political thinking, political theory, and civil society. Boston: Allyn and Bacon.
Rousseau, Jean Jacques. Social Contract. In Sir Thomas More, Famous utopias ; being a complete text of rousseau's social contract, more's utopia, bacon's new atlantis, campanell's city of the sun (1-126). New York: Tudor.
Strauss, L. (1959). "What is political philosophy?". What is Political Philosophy and Other Studies, 9-55.