Rousseau's Arguments Of The Social Contract
To better understand the reasoning behind these claims one has to first understand the arguments that Rousseau makes. Rousseau states that the social contract is the process of the people coming together to form an agreement dealing with individual rights, self governance, and freedom. At a certain point humans need to depend on the cooperation of others because they can no longer fulfill their needs on their own. As a result of the social contract each person enjoys protection and security of their liberty through the common force. The source of law that enforces this is attributed to the general will which is “only the common interest”. It is important to note that this is different to the will of all which is “merely a sum of particular
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He wants people to be good citizens by actively participating in their political arena. Rousseau celebrates a democracy that stresses public duties over private rights, celebrates sacrifice for the common good, has a strong sense of community, and promotes certain virtues. He believes that these things are required in a state for it to flourish. This is done when the people collectively come together as one (sovereign) to pass laws for the common good of everyone. This type of participation defines not only their government and politics but also their freedoms, and individual limits. For example, Rousseau believes that “the right each private individual has to his own resources is always subordinate to the right the community has over everyone, without which there would be neither solidity in the social bond nor actual force in the exercise of sovereignty” (178). Here in a way Rousseau sums up that individual rights are not good for the state if they conflict with the community because they weaken the bond between the citizens and power of the sovereign. That people should be expected to give up certain rights as individuals for the benefit of the community as a whole. Through the lack of emphasis on individual rights, one can start to see how in certain situations this can be not only repressive and demanding, but also
He wants people to be good citizens by actively participating in their political arena. Rousseau celebrates a democracy that stresses public duties over private rights, celebrates sacrifice for the common good, has a strong sense of community, and promotes certain virtues. He believes that these things are required in a state for it to flourish. This is done when the people collectively come together as one (sovereign) to pass laws for the common good of everyone. This type of participation defines not only their government and politics but also their freedoms, and individual limits. For example, Rousseau believes that “the right each private individual has to his own resources is always subordinate to the right the community has over everyone, without which there would be neither solidity in the social bond nor actual force in the exercise of sovereignty” (178). Here in a way Rousseau sums up that individual rights are not good for the state if they conflict with the community because they weaken the bond between the citizens and power of the sovereign. That people should be expected to give up certain rights as individuals for the benefit of the community as a whole. Through the lack of emphasis on individual rights, one can start to see how in certain situations this can be not only repressive and demanding, but also