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Jean Jacques Rousseau Research Paper

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Jean- Jacques Rousseau is a well-known philosopher and radical political theorist whose ideas of inequality and political philosophy influenced many radical thinkers in history, as well as modern day ideologies. His many pieces of work including, Emile, The Social Contract, and ideas about the natural human and the common good created ideas that society was corrupt, creating a hard life for the lower classes. Rousseau believed that political views should not be separate from morality and education was important for not only adults but children as well. His ideas led people to think about the way we live our lives and are important in many of our societal duties. Rousseau greatly influenced modern day society with his unique philosophies, …show more content…

Rousseau looked to the state of nature as a positive guide to his theories. He believed that human inequality cannot exist in the state of nature. The state of nature is the idea that humans can live a life where man is not corrupted by society’s standards. To Rousseau, many modern ideas like law, property, and inequality simply do not exist in nature, so it should not exist in modern society. Physically, if a man cannot provide for himself due to his height, weight, or physical attributes, then inequality can exist in nature, but cannot be compared to the inequality from a corrupt government. Rousseau believed that humans develop in stages from birth to death. The savage stage was Rousseau’s idea that a natural man was basically the same as an ape or chimpanzee, meaning that civilized humans are artificial. Humans were no longer in touch with their correct, natural characteristics. Negative societal influences are what created the idea that human pride and materials were what separated each person from the other. If these differences were kept to a minimal, society may be able to come together because they would be depending on one another instead of competing against each other. Rousseau believed that the only way to reverse the effects of modern society was for man to find the virtue he once had and to abide by a social

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Rousseau’s beliefs coincided with the beliefs of other Enlightenment thinkers. This is shown when he writes, “Duty and interest thus equally require the two contracting parties [the people and the government] to aid each other mutually” (Document 3). In that period of history, it was typical for people to be ruled by a monarch and they had very little say, if any, in the laws and policies that impacted their day to day life. Rousseau felt that the system was outdated and it made citizens feel as if they were living in someone else’s home rather than their own, so he theorized that by fabricating a system in which the government and the people are forced to work together, it creates a sense of unity and equality. This works because “ … an offense against one of its members is an offense against the body politic.

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812 Words | 4 Pages

Rousseau’s beliefs coincided with the beliefs of other Enlightenment thinkers. This is shown when he writes, “Duty and interest thus equally require the two contracting parties [the people and the government] to aid each other mutually” (Document 3). In that period of history, it was typical for people to be ruled by a monarch and they had very little say, if any, in the laws and policies that impacted their day to day life. Rousseau felt that the system was outdated and it made citizens feel as if they were living in someone else’s home rather than their own, so he theorized that by fabricating a system in which the government and the people are forced to work together, it creates a sense of unity and equality. This works because “ … an offense against one of its members is an offense against the body politic.

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1137 Words | 5 Pages

Rousseau’s main idea is that everyone should feel safe, happy, and equal even if it means sacrificing personal joy for the good of society. If these things are not present then the community does not work. The contract

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1162 Words | 5 Pages

He based his beliefs off of the ideas that all men are created good-natured, but society corrupts them. Unlike some other French Enlightenment thinkers, Rousseau believed that the Social contract was not a willing agreement. He also said that no man should be forced to give up their natural rights to a ruler. He came up with the solution that people should “give up” their natural rights to the community for the public’s good. He believed in a democratic government.

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877 Words | 4 Pages

It derived many of its ideas from Rousseau’s “The Social

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1418 Words | 6 Pages

Addressing the Inner Workings of Both Society and the Minds Affected By It The eighteenth century occurred after both the Industrial Revolution and Enlightenment and many different progressions, both good and bad, happened during this time. These include the growing questions on gender roles and the role of a person in society as a whole. In all kinds of societies, people are treated and raised in different ways according to certain traits they own and how society perceives these traits. Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on the affect of society on an individual addresses these situations and explains why and how people are influenced by society.

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1631 Words | 7 Pages

These are questions that Jean-Jacques Rousseau attempts to answer. In his “The Origins of Civil Society”, Rousseau presents his ideas on how the ideal society would run. He is able to effectively organize his thoughts in such a way that enables understanding and camaraderie with his audience, convincing them of the ways in which the quintessential society would function.

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1012 Words | 5 Pages

However, by doing so, we retain our individuality and freedom. In chapter 6, of the social contract Rousseau argues that people need to give up their individual freedom and unite for the common good of all in order to overcome the natural threats to their own existence. It is their own existence that motivates them to give up their individual freedom and unite. The problem with the social contract lies in the opposing forces of individual freedom versus the sovereign that was formed when they united.

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1328 Words | 6 Pages

Rousseau strongly believes in the idea of majority rule, and his idea of the general will is discussed heavily in The Social Contract. By advocating for the undeniability of the general will, Rousseau effectively says that factions have no place in effective government, “It is therefore essential, if the general will is to be able to express itself, that there should be no partial society within the State, and that each citizen should think only his own thoughts;” (Rousseau pg 437). Since Rousseau thinks society needs to work as one harmonious machine, there is no place for factions and self-interest in his model society. Rousseau makes some smart arguments on how if people are willing to give up certain liberties, all of society can greatly benefit. However, much like many political thinkers looking for change, Rousseau ends up being quite idealistic, and very disconnected with how the world works.

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769 Words | 4 Pages

In order to explore what, according to Rousseau, were the worst effects of socialisation and as a result how they impacted humanity, four points require

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358 Words | 2 Pages

By breaking the law, neglecting his creation, and selfishly withholding information, Frankenstein made the already miserable existence of the monster indefensible. Even the first action Victor takes in constructing his abomination is reprehensible, by breaking the law he dooms his project from the beginning. Simply animating life was not enough for Frankenstein, he had to create a “human” but not just any ordinary human, a towering 8 foot tall beast sewed together using the stolen remains of the dead. While relating the gruesome details of his conquest to Walton, Frankenstein mentions that not only did he rob graves, but he “tortured the living animal to animate the lifeless clay”. By using the graves of the poor and the backs of tortured animals as stepping stones to reach his goal, Frankenstein makes both himself and the things he creates disgusting.

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479 Words | 2 Pages

One of the most famous Enlightenment thinkers was Jean-Jacques Rousseau, author of The Social Contract. The point of The Social Contract is to establish whether or not a legitimate political authority can exist. Rousseau based his book on the idea that things were worse of now that people were under a governmental authority than before—whenever they were in a state of nature. Rousseau’s work was influential around the world, giving rise to political reforms and

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1648 Words | 7 Pages

“when I consider him, in a word, as he must have left the hands of nature, I see an animal less strong than some, less agile than others…” (Rousseau 40) Contrary to those described by Hobbes and Locke, Rousseau’s state of nature does not involve complex rational ideas, but rather simple instincts such as sympathy and self-preservation. The absence of things like violence and property from Rousseau’s state of nature implies that these problems are unnatural and are the product of society. Rousseau continues to state

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511 Words | 3 Pages

However, I think it is important to remember Rousseau’s concept of perfectibility and understand that because of this trait it was almost inevitable that humans would eventually become social. Yet, it is not inevitable that humans would become politically unequal, as that is a direct result of government institutions. As well, Rousseau himself in further writings even expresses the hope that a new form of social contract could help to ease some of the political inequalities that plague contemporary society. This then suggests that the cause for these issues is not rooted in being social, for it is possible to live among others in a setting where equality has been institutionalized. Rather, the problem lies with corrupt and capitalist governments that serve to perpetuate inauthenticity and private

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1624 Words | 7 Pages

“This right does not come from nature, it is therefore founded upon convention”. Rousseau does not view society in the same light as Durkheim. He does not believe that society is the savior of humans and that there is no real self without it. Unlike Durkheim, Rousseau believes that the only natural society is the traditional family and that any other form is forged out of convention. Rousseau mentions that when parents are done raising their child and that child is no longer dependent, but chooses to stay then the family is together out if convention and is then unnatural.

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