Rousseau; Political Obligation Flashcards
Why is the discourse perceived as a tragedy?
A descent into inequality and unfreedom.
What is compromised through the process of civilisation?
Our freedom
What to the multiplication of needs as civilisation advances result in?
Relationships of dependency and this creates profound unfreedom..
is the process of civilisation reversible?
No, it’s permanent, cannot revert to the state of nature.
Who thinks that Rousseau is saying that we return to the woods?
Voltaire.
What does it mean that we become social creatures? (age of social media)
We are constantly aware of what others think of us.
What do we crave in age of social media?
Crave recognition or praise from others.
Why else would we care how much likes we got on a Instagram post.
Savage man lives within himself, sociable man…
outside himself, he is capable of living only in the opinion of others.
What can we do to achieve freedom in modern society?
Through the social contract.
The starting point; is it utopian or realist?
realist.
The starting point; What does he first want to come up with?
basic constitutional principles for how a modern state can be governed.
The starting point; “taking men for how they are and…
laws as they might be.”
The starting point; What does the quote about men and laws show about changing men ? What can we change?
It shows that we should accept human beings in this state but we can change laws.
The starting point; Is human nature completely rigid?
- No, government will change human beings to ensure they can be governed well.
The starting point; What is the quote that shows human nature is malleable by government;
“It is good to know how to use men as they are, it is better
still to turn them into what one needs to be.”
What is the famous Rousseau quote about chains
“Man is born free and everywhere he is in chains.”
The quote about chains is to do with savage or civilised man?
civilised.
Humans born swaddled in clothes and die?
as a corpse nailed in a coffin.
Why does Rousseau believe that we are born and die a slave?
Because we are dependent on others.
Does Rousseau think we should break/smash these chains?
If not, what does he suggest?
No do not break/smash the chains (due to civilisation being irreversible) but make them legitimate.
Will we always have obligations/ dependence on others?
Yes.
What should the legitimate chains be?
Laws.
What does he primarily disagree with Hobbes and Grotius about? (to do with establishing a state)
Establishing a state by conquest.
Who believes in sovereignty by institution?
Hobbes.
Can people bargain away their freedom?
If no, why doesn’t it make sense to exchange freedom for?
No, makes no sense to surrender all freedom to a sovereign in order to secure own safety.
In Hobbes state of nature, tired of perpetual conflict, what would individuals renounce?
All their rights for peace.
A lot better than the alternative; state of nature.
What is the primary function of the sovereign for Hobbes ?
Primary Function is peace.
Grotius says that the ‘people’ can make a contract with monarch?
What does this assume?
That ‘the people are already in the being.” How have ‘the people’ come into being.
What comes first for Hobbes; the people or the sovereign?
At same time.
we are a multitude of individuals, but once we make a contract with each other, we become artificial man of the state at the same time as instituting the sovereign.
What comes first for Rousseau; the people or the sovereign?
the people are formed first.
What is Rousseau’s issue; he want’s to find a form of political society that is binding on all members while…
remaining as free as before.
How can we reconcile the feeling of freedom with obedience?
By having an authority that is legitimate, we can obey while not infringing on our freedom.
Reconciling subjection and citizenship; Through what concept can these be reconciled?
Through the social contract, can be reconciled within one person.
Define subjects
The people when they are passive or following the laws, not actively engaged in politics, just simply obeying the law.
How can someone who is subject to the law become a citizen?
through participating in the process of law making itself.
Is Citizenship an passive or active concept?
Active.
Define Citizenship?
The people when they are participating in the sovereign or legislating.
Rousseau is a theorist of what type of sovereignty?
popular sovereignty.
What are the citizens doing together when they form a sovereign?
legislating together.
Is there any other type of sovereign than popular sovereignty?
NOPE
What to Hobbes and Rousseau agree on about sovereignty?
Can it be spread/divided?
It has to be indivisible.
cannot be divided and spread over different entities in the state.
Sovereignty has to be inalienable, what does this mean?
The people cannot give up any portion of their sovereignty to a parliament or institution.
Rousseau stresses obedience to law but not blindly obey, what should our obedience only owed to?
general will.
What should the law be?
general will of the sovereign.
