Rousseau
The Social Contract"
War then is a relation, not between man and man, but between State and State, and individuals are enemies only accidentally, not as men, nor even as citizens" -- Rousseau
Rousseau's musing on the social contract posit the idea that human beings, to survive and also to willingly (one could argue) enjoy the benefits of civilized society sacrifice some liberties. To not live in a state of fear, citizens agree to obey the laws of the land, and in modern society, this means to pay taxes, not steal, to not harm our neighbor and to give back to the state in the form of our service and loyalty. But one of the most barbaric aspects of human life 'in society' is that most uncivilized occupation of war. To live in society, human beings may fight other individuals with whom they have no quarrel, whom they would never have met had not their sovereign disagreed with the other combatant's sovereign. This seems almost as uncivilized as the state of nature itself.
In agreeing to do barbaric things, like kill other people according to the order and will of a sovereign, as well as more minor acts of incivility demanded by our government, the 'chained' nature of the human condition in society, no matter how benign a society becomes clear. Perhaps war is sometimes necessary. But always soldiers must remember they are not fighting as individuals, they have sacrificed their individuality for the common benefit, so others, paradoxically, can enjoy being individuals in society.
The contradictions of war can never be fully resolved -- for the rest of their countrymen to live safely and not live in a brutal state of nature, soldiers kill. To be individuals and to be able to enjoy culture rather than constantly wage a struggle for the fittest, soldiers sacrifice their individuality for the sake of a grievance that is not their own in brutal battle. And as part of the modern nation-state, all human beings likewise commit similar 'infractions' of their personal liberty, spanning any number of actions they would not otherwise perform, from paying taxes, to serving on juries, to obeying the petty laws about garbage collecting of their town or municipality. To be civilized in a society that respects individuality also means giving up freedom and individuality.
Introduction Several theorists have used social contract theory to understand the government’s role in taking care of the public and addressing the public’s needs. Current political issues offer further examination of social contract theory and how it may help with understanding government obligation and public participation. Rousseau's social contract theory is best and most relevant for understanding and offering solutions to contemporary political issues like mandatory vaccination, taxation, and universal healthcare
Rousseau's work on The Social Contract begins with a legendary ringing indictment of society as it exists: "Man is born free; and everywhere he is in chains" (Rousseau 1993, p. 693). Before examining Rousseau's theory of government in greater detail, however, it is worth noting what assumptions are contained in this first sentence of The Social Contract, which is perhaps the most famous line that Rousseau ever wrote. It contains
" This voice allows a civilized person to put aside his or her self-interest, in order to uphold an abstract "general good." A person who has accepted the social contract therefore puts aside the anti-social natural inclinations described by Hobbes. In their place, a person agrees to abide by the rules of society and the social order. In a sense, the acceptance of the social contract makes society possible. At first,
social contract would observe the law as well as the institution to enforce that law. By the enforcement of that law, those covered could expect justice to be done to them and everybody else. In times of trouble, such as when burglars or other criminals attack, one could call the police for help. Those covered by the contract need neither to fear such unjust attacks nor to take the
1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights Rousseau stated in his Social Contract that “Man is born free—and everywhere he is in chains.”[footnoteRef:2] The insistence on man’s nature right of freedom from the Enlightenment Era philosopher helped pave the way for the French Revolution with its insistence on liberty, fraternity and equality. A century and a half later, those same ideals would still hold significant appeal for the Western nations, especially following
Rousseau on Corruption: Its Causes and Elimination Proprietary Ownership as the Underlying Problem in Human Society According to Rousseau, elements of human societies promote conflict in and of themselves. Specifically, Rousseau explains in his Discourse on Inequality (1754) that the very concept of proprietary ownership, especially of real property (i.e. land ownership), is unnatural and necessarily leads to respective comparisons, competition, and envy. He argues that those who come to own large
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