Rousseau mini lecture

Summary

In this video, we delve into Jean-Jacques Rousseau's political philosophy, focusing on his belief in man's natural goodness and the corrupting influence of society. Rousseau argues for a direct democracy guided by the 'general will' to counter societal corruption and enslavement. He posits that obeying the laws of such a society, even if it means being compelled, is a form of freedom, as it aligns with the collective good and suppresses individual vanity.

Takeaways

• 🌿 Jean-Jacques Rousseau believed that humans are naturally good but are corrupted and enslaved by society.
• 🏛️ Rousseau's solution to societal corruption is direct democracy, where laws are made according to the general will, aiming to create a less corrupt and free society.
• 🤔 Rousseau's concept of freedom is nuanced; he suggests that obeying laws can paradoxically force individuals to be free by aligning them with the general will.
• 📚 Rousseau's ideas are a response to Hobbes' view of the state of nature, arguing that Hobbes misinterpreted it and that true freedom and goodness are found in a pre-societal state.
• 🧐 Rousseau differentiates between 'good' and 'moral', suggesting that morality arises from social interactions and the need to live with others, not from a natural state.
• 👥 In Rousseau's view, society corrupts individuals by fostering competition and the desire to impress others, leading to vanity and a loss of freedom.
• 🗳️ Direct democracy, as proposed by Rousseau, requires active participation from all citizens in law-making to ensure they are both sovereign and subject.
• 🏢 Rousseau criticizes representative democracy and political parties, arguing they lead to individuals representing their party's interests rather than the general will.
• 🔗 Rousseau's 'general will' refers to the collective interests of all, which should guide legislation and is key to maintaining freedom within a political society.
• 🛡️ For Rousseau, legitimate laws that reflect the general will are essential for freedom, and disobedience to such laws should be met with force to uphold the social contract.

Q & A

What is Jean-Jacques Rousseau's view on human nature in the state of nature?

Rousseau believed that humans are naturally good in the state of nature, living separate lives and not desiring to dominate or harm others. They are guided by self-love to protect themselves but also tempered by pity for others, leading to a state of radical freedom and goodness, but not morality.

How does Rousseau think society corrupts individuals?

Rousseau argues that society corrupts individuals by introducing competition and vanity. As people come together, they start to compare themselves to others, leading to a desire for material possessions, status, and power, which makes them unfree and enslaved by the opinions of others.

What is the role of vanity in Rousseau's philosophy?

Vanity, for Rousseau, is a corrupting force that turns self-love into a desire for the approval of others. It leads individuals to act not out of their own desires but to impress others, which contradicts the freedom and natural goodness he associates with the state of nature.

What is Rousseau's solution to the problem of societal corruption?

Rousseau proposes a direct democracy as a solution, where individuals participate in making laws according to the general will. This political structure aims to create a society that is less corrupt and ensures freedom by aligning individual actions with the collective good.

How does Rousseau define the 'general will'?

The 'general will', according to Rousseau, represents what is in everybody's best interests, rather than the interests of a specific individual or group. It is the collective good that should guide the decisions made in a direct democracy.

What does Rousseau mean when he says 'forced to be free'?

Rousseau's statement 'forced to be free' suggests that individuals may resist laws that align with the general will, but obeying these laws actually ensures their freedom. It implies that true freedom is not the absence of constraints but living under laws that protect the collective good and suppress individual vanity.

How does Rousseau's concept of freedom differ from the common understanding?

Rousseau's concept of freedom is not about doing whatever one wants but about living under laws that suppress individual desires driven by vanity. True freedom, for him, is the silence of the passions and living according to the general will, which may sometimes require individuals to be compelled to obey laws for their own freedom.

What is the significance of the social contract in Rousseau's philosophy?

The social contract is central to Rousseau's philosophy as it represents the agreement among individuals to form a society and abide by the general will. It is a voluntary agreement where everyone consents to be both sovereign (part of the ruling body) and subject (obeying the laws), ensuring that laws serve the collective good.

Why does Rousseau emphasize direct democracy over representative democracy?

Rousseau emphasizes direct democracy because he believes that individuals should represent themselves and make laws for the collective good, not their own interests or those of a political party. This prevents the corruption of the general will and ensures that laws are made with the entire community's interests in mind.

How does Rousseau's idea of the state of nature compare to Thomas Hobbes' view?

Rousseau's view of the state of nature contrasts with Hobbes' by suggesting that humans are naturally good and not in a constant state of war, as Hobbes proposed. Rousseau believes that the state of nature is one of freedom and goodness, while it is society that corrupts humans and leads to a loss of freedom.

Outlines

00:00

🌿 Rousseau's View on Natural Goodness and Social Corruption

This paragraph introduces the political philosophy of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, emphasizing his belief in the inherent goodness of humans in a state of nature and the corrupting influence of society. Rousseau argues that society not only corrupts us but also enslaves us, leading to a loss of freedom. His solution is the establishment of a direct democracy where laws are made according to the general will, aiming to create a less corrupt and non-enslaving society. The paragraph also contrasts Rousseau's ideas with those of Thomas Hobbes, particularly regarding the state of nature. Rousseau believes that to truly understand the state of nature, one must look back to a time before society and political structures, envisioning a time when humans lived as 'cave people,' independent and free but also good in the sense of not wanting to harm others.

05:02

🏛️ Rousseau's Vision for a Free Society and the Social Contract

The second paragraph delves into Rousseau's concept of freedom and his idea of the social contract as a means to recover the lost freedom experienced in the state of nature. Rousseau suggests that while we cannot return to that state, we can create a new society where freedom is preserved through political participation. He advocates for a direct democracy where every individual is both a sovereign and a subject, participating in the creation and obedience of laws. Rousseau's view of freedom is not about doing whatever one wants but about aligning one's actions with the general will, which he believes is in everyone's best interest. The paragraph also discusses the transformation of self-love into vanity within society and how this vanity corrupts and enslaves individuals. Rousseau's solution is to quiet the passions and make decisions based on the general will, which he outlines in his book 'The Social Contract.' The concept of being 'forced to be free' is introduced, suggesting that obeying laws made for the common good is a form of freedom, even if it requires enforcement.

Keywords

💡Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Jean-Jacques Rousseau was an influential philosopher during the Enlightenment era. He is known for his political philosophy, particularly the idea that humans are inherently good but are corrupted by society. In the video, Rousseau's ideas are central to understanding the theme of natural goodness, societal corruption, and the concept of freedom as defined by him.

💡State of Nature

The 'state of nature' refers to a hypothetical condition that existed before the formation of societies and political institutions. Rousseau believed that in this state, humans were naturally good and lived separately, without the corrupting influences of society. The video contrasts Rousseau's view of the state of nature with that of Thomas Hobbes, emphasizing Rousseau's belief in the inherent goodness of humans in this pre-social condition.

💡Social Contract

The 'Social Contract' is a philosophical concept introduced by Rousseau, suggesting that individuals in a society agree to a contract that establishes the rules and laws governing their collective life. In the video, Rousseau's 'Social Contract' is presented as a solution to the problem of societal corruption and enslavement, advocating for a direct democracy where citizens participate in making laws that reflect the 'general will'.

💡General Will

The 'general will' is a term used by Rousseau to describe the collective interest of all members of a society, as opposed to the 'will of all,' which might be influenced by individual or group interests. The video explains that, for Rousseau, aligning with the general will is essential for maintaining freedom within society, as it ensures that laws are made for the common good rather than for personal gain.

💡Direct Democracy

Direct democracy is a form of government where citizens participate directly in decision-making, rather than through representatives. Rousseau advocated for direct democracy as a means to ensure that laws reflect the general will and to maintain individual freedom. The video discusses how, in Rousseau's view, direct democracy is necessary to prevent societal corruption and enslavement.

💡Enslavement

In the context of the video, 'enslavement' refers to the loss of individual freedom due to societal pressures and the influence of others' opinions. Rousseau argued that society can enslave individuals by making them live according to the expectations and desires of others, rather than their own will. The video explores how Rousseau's political ideas aim to prevent this form of enslavement.

💡Corruption

Corruption, as discussed in the video, is the process by which society influences individuals to act against their natural goodness. Rousseau believed that societal structures and the desire for material possessions and social status lead to corruption, causing individuals to act competitively and to lose their innate freedom.

💡Vanity

Vanity, in Rousseau's philosophy, is a corrupting force that arises from societal influences. It is the desire to appear good in the eyes of others, leading individuals to act not out of their own will but to gain approval or admiration. The video explains that vanity is a key factor in Rousseau's argument for societal corruption and the loss of freedom.

💡Freedom

Freedom, as defined by Rousseau and discussed in the video, is not simply the ability to do as one pleases but rather the state of being governed by laws that are in line with one's own and the collective good. Rousseau believed that true freedom is achieved when individuals are not dominated by their passions or the opinions of others, but are guided by the general will.

💡Forced to be Free

The phrase 'forced to be free' is a controversial statement from Rousseau that the video explores. It suggests that if individuals refuse to obey laws that are in line with the general will, they may need to be compelled to do so for the sake of their own freedom. The video argues that this does not imply tyranny but rather the enforcement of laws that protect the freedom of all by ensuring that everyone's actions align with the collective good.

Highlights

Jean-Jacques Rousseau believed that humans are naturally good but are corrupted and enslaved by society.

Rousseau's solution to societal corruption is direct democracy where laws are made according to the general will.

Rousseau argues that obeying the general will leads to a less corrupt society and ensures freedom from enslavement.

Rousseau's concept of freedom involves obeying laws that one has had a part in creating, which contrasts with Hobbes' view of the state of nature.

Rousseau differentiates between the state of nature and civilized man, suggesting the former is a time prior to society and political structures.

In the state of nature, humans are described as living separate lives, radically free, and naturally good but not moral.

Rousseau posits that morality emerges only when humans live in society and interact with one another.

Society's formation leads to the development of vanity and competitiveness, which Rousseau sees as corrupting and enslaving humans.

Rousseau's concept of the 'general will' refers to what is in everybody's best interests, not just individual interests.

In Rousseau's vision, individuals must participate directly in the creation of laws to maintain freedom.

Rousseau advocates for a direct democracy where citizens vote on issues themselves, rather than through representatives.

Rousseau suggests that true freedom is the ability to represent oneself and make decisions in the interest of the whole community.

Rousseau's idea of 'forcing someone to be free' means enforcing compliance with laws that are in everyone's best interest.

Rousseau's view on freedom contrasts with the idea of doing whatever one desires; instead, it's about aligning with the general will.

Rousseau's political philosophy emphasizes the importance of self-governance and the suppression of individual vanity for the common good.

Transcripts

today we're going to look at the

political ideas of Jean Jac rouso in

particular we're going to have a look at

his idea that we are naturally good but

we are corrupted by Society but also

that as we are corrupted by Society we

are also enslaved by this Society we'll

then look at Russo's answer for this

which is a direct democracy where we

make laws according to the general will

this Society will firstly lead us to be

a less corrupt society and second of all

ensure that we are not enslaved finally

we'll look at a puzzling statement by

Jean Jac Russo that if we disobey the

laws will'll be forced to be free and

suggest that this in fact reveals

Russo's novel view of freedom but is not

a license to

tyranny now you'll remember from when we

looked at Hobs that Hobs thought that

there was this hypothetical situation

called the state of nature in which

there was no sovereign state over us and

in this state of nature due to the

nature of mankind Our Lives will be

nasty brutish and short uh there's no

morals in the state of nature we will do

whatever we need to do in order to

protect ourselves Russo feels that Hobs

wasn't actually looking at the state of

nature but rather civilized man as Russo

would call him rather in order to look

at the state of nature Russo thought you

need to look back in time to a Time

prior to society and and prior to a

political state so Russo takes us back

to a time in which we are effectively

for one of a better phrase cave people

living on our own Russo thought and he

said that in this Society we would be

naturally good

right now I just want to pause on this

point a minute because Russo says that

we'll be naturally good but not

naturally moral morality Russo says only

comes into play when we need to live

with other people uh you know Thou shalt

not steal Thou shalt not cover thy

neighbor's wife in order for those two

statements to be meaningful there needs

to be other people who have property um

and a neighbor and your neighbor has to

have a wife now Russo thought in this

early original state of nature mankind

would live Separate Lives they would

live their lives according to two maxims

one am Mora which by which Russo meant

self-love with regards to wanting to

protect yourself for no harm to come on

your own but secondly this would be

tempered by the fact that Russo thought

we would live according to pity that is

to say that we wouldn't want to see

suffering in another person

consequently the original state of

nature for Russo is people living

separate lives uh depending on the will

of no other person so therefore

radically free but also good in the

sense that they would not actually want

to harm someone else when there was a

conflict there would be a conflict over

a specific thing an apple a tree

whatever uh but they would be limited to

that we would have no desire to dominate

or harm everyone else

that is the state of nature for

rouso so naturally mankind is radically

free and naturally good not moral but

good this is contrasted by Russo by the

corruption that is is is induced by

Society Society comes about because

these individual atomized uh men come

together in societ iy in order to do

tasks which they could do on their own

to build buildings for example now this

is good Russo thinks and also it has the

good consequence of introducing morals I

mentioned a minute ago that Russo thinks

that in order for morals to be relevant

in society you need a society a group of

individuals and Mankind coming together

in this fashion brings just that but he

says there's a downside to coming

together as society and that is the fact

that around the campfire in the evening

societies would start telling stories

they would start to um entertain one

another and in this process they would

want to look good in the eyes of other

people this process then continues to

people wanting fancier clothes than

other people wanting more property uh

they want slaves whatever things which

make people look powerful to other

people now this has two effects first of

all it corrupts us because you know it

makes us competitive against one another

but and this is the important thing it

makes us unfree it enslaves us because

in Russo's phrase we start to live our

lives Through The Eyes of others we

start to do things not because we want

to do them necessarily but because we

want to look good to other people it's

here that the amoda the self-love of

which I spoke in the earlier section

turns into a more proper vanity and it's

this vanity that corrupts us and

enslaves us because it leads us to

things which we don't want and are

unnatural to

us can we recover this lost Freedom

Russo says in essence we can't but we

can build something similar to it and

it's this construct of a new society in

which we can live in political society

and remain free which Russo um attempts

to outline in a book entitled the social

contract in it he says

every man in society and I I I use the

word man deliberately here all men in

society need to contract to form a

society together and they have to

explicitly state that they want to be

part of this contract uh logically

speaking if someone refuses to consent

to the legitimate power of government

then he can't be said to have to obey

the laws of government however rouso

says it's not enough to consent to

government but also you have to directly

participate in it you have to be both

Sovereign and subject you have to

participate in the making of the rules

and the obeying of the rules

consequently Russo's Republic is a

direct democracy all men need to go to

the assembly and vote on issues

themselves they are not allowed to join

members of of parties because uh Russo

says this means that people represent

their party not themselves you have to

rep represent only yourselves and make

laws for everybody Russo says by giving

yourself to everybody and making laws

for everybody we all in fact are giving

ourselves to no one and making laws for

ourselves alone now how does this deal

with vanity though Russo says that in

order to be free one needs to quiet the

passions not do what you want to do

rather than be free to do it and he says

in order to quell vanity our decisions

in society in that direct democracy

assembly need to be attuned to the

general will now the general will for

rouso is what is in everybody's best

interests rather than being in your

interest so consequently when I vote in

the assembly according to Russo I make

my decision on every bit of legislation

as to what is good for the entire

Republic not what is good for me this in

turn will make legitimate laws which

will dampen what I want because I cannot

go and make laws which directly benefit

me there's an intriguing quote near the

end of the social contract which says if

one refuses to obey the laws of the

sovereign power which you remember is

everybody then you'll be forced to be

free now this quote has led some to

think that Russo's providing a licensed

tyranny I'm not sure that this is the

case and remember this boils down to

what Russo says freedom is now what

Russo is saying is that everybody should

be able to represent themselves in the

assembly that they shouldn't have to be

a member of any party you know they

should be able to represent themselves

decision ision should be made of what's

in everybody's interests rather than any

one group of people or any particular

individual's basis and that that makes a

legitimate law if you refuse to obey

that law you will be forced to obey it

now that's not all that different to

societies of which we live in today if a

legitimate law is made we expect people

to obey it however rouso thinks that

making laws which apply to yourself is

freedom freedom is not doing whatever

vanity dictates that you do freedom is

not about doing what you want to do or

what your passions tell us to do it's

about making laws which get rid of your

Desir desires so freedom is as Russo

says the

seion The Silence of the passions that's

Freedom that's why you can be forced to

be free for ruso