Jean-Jacques Rosseau ( Only the summary)

Question 1

Republicanism

Answer 1

• Mixed regime ( no monarchy)
• Citizen particiaption
• Citizens Militia
• Civil religion ( no seperate Church)

Question 2

Romanticisim

Answer 2

A response to the enlightenment:

• Focusing on that what is unique
• Authenticity and historicity
• Emotions
• Wild nature

Romanticisim is visble in arts, sciences and society from around 1750 onwards

Question 3

Romanticisim in modern day politcs

Answer 3

Romanticisim becane visble at both sides of the specturm:

• At the right: reactionary movements and nationalism
• At the left: Environmentalism, radicalism and the “hippe” movement of 1968

Question 4

Rousseau’s main problem

Answer 4

” a man is born free, but everywhere he is in chains”

Rousseau wanted to find a form of associaction that defend the people and goods in the community, but where man still remains free as in the state of nature.

Question 5

Noble savage

Answer 5

The pure state of nature and the background of the problems.

The noble savage is innocent; he/she has no relations, reason, property, culture.

• The state of nature is a state of peace.
• People are roughly equal. No scarity. There is compassion.

Question 6

Humans

Answer 6

Humans are naturally good, but they become wicked because of our institutions.

Question 7

The problem of property.

Answer 7

Property creates inequality. As it is not possible for an object to be the propert of severaal persons together.

Question 8

Rousseaus solution for the social order

Answer 8

Social order does not come from nature, but is based on convetnions.

The social contract is the solution:

• Everyone submits their person and power under the direction of the general will
• In a body every member is received as an indivisble (ondeelbaar) part of the whole.
• The basis and guiding principle for the state then is popular sovereignty.

Question 9

What is the general will

Answer 9

” The constant will of all the members of the state” this makes mamebers free citizens.

Question 10

Refusing the general will

Answer 10

Whoever refuses to obey the general will, will be forced to do so by the whole body. The person is forced to be free.

Question 11

Limits of the sovereign body

Answer 11

• It should do nothing useless, only do things that serve the community
• It should not do nothing particular, laws are general

Question 12

Preferd state and forms of government

Answer 12

The government is also the excutive and is focusing on mainting liberty. The corresponding govenrment should be smaller than the state.

He preffered and elective aristocracy. Mixed regimes usally are less strong. but also less weak.