The Social Contract - Deepstash

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Introduction

Introduction

The Social Contract to address two central questions in social philosophy:

1. How people can remain free while living under the control of a state

2. What makes a state's power legitimate

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He states that people create nations by uniting their individual powers through a social contract, agreeing to govern themselves collectively and protect each other's rights.

To form a country, individuals must relinquish certain freedoms they possessed in the state of nature. However, these are replaced by the more significant civil freedom of living in society, which fosters moral and intellectual growth.

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Book I

Book I

Rousseau states that a state is only legitimate when people govern themselves an idea he calls authority. People make laws and delegate the enforcement of those laws to a government, which represents the executive power.

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JEAN-JACQUES ROUSSEAU

Man is born free; and everywhere he is in chains

JEAN-JACQUES ROUSSEAU

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Book II

Book II

He delves into the concept of sovereignty, which Rousseau defines as the collective authority of the people over themselves. He emphasizes that the ruler, as a collective entity, must prioritize the public interest over private goals and avoid benefiting some citizens at the expense of others.

Rousseau critiques political parties for potentially undermining the general will, arguing that legitimate authority must serve the common good. He also asserts that laws must be abstract and impartial, applying equally to all.

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JEAN-JACQUES ROUSSEAU

Every man has a right to risk his own life in order to preserve it

JEAN-JACQUES ROUSSEAU

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Book III

Book III

Rousseau examines different forms of government like democracy, aristocracy, and monarchy

based on how executive power is organized. He clarifies that his use of these terms differs from modern definitions. For Rousseau, a democracy involves citizens both making and enforcing laws, which he sees as impractical. Monarchy, where one individual holds all executive power, risks tyranny and inefficiency.

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Instead, Rousseau favors aristocracy, where a small, chosen group oversees governance, provided it serves the people's interests. He also notes that the structure of government should adapt to the size and needs of the state, with larger states requiring more hierarchical systems.

Rousseau argues that governments inevitably decline when they encroach upon the people's sovereignty. He suggests that citizens regularly assemble to discuss laws and limit governmental power. Roman Republic as an example of a system where citizens directly participated in lawmaking, ensuring the sovereignty of them.

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Book IV

Book IV

Rousseau addresses challenges to maintaining a just government. He stresses that the general will must reflect the collective good, though individuals often prioritize personal interests over communal ones which is a sign of societal decay. Rousseau supports the idea of tribunals to check governmental overreach and, in extreme cases, endorses the Roman concept of a temporary dictatorship during crises.

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He concludes that cultivating civic virtues is essential for sustaining a healthy state, proposing a civil religion to instill moral values and respect for the social contract. While Christianity focuses on salvation in the afterlife, Rousseau’s civil religion emphasizes principles that promote societal harmony and adherence to the law.

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IDEAS CURATED BY

kyoie99

Just doin Philo and Psych For my original works follow me at medium

CURATOR'S NOTE

Full Summary of The Social Contract by Jean-Jacques Rousseau

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