Jean-Jacques Rousseau

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Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Cause and Consequence

By the end of the Enlightenment, Rousseau spent his last decade on written work, mostly intended to justify himself against the accusations of his adversaries (“Jean-Jacques Rousseau - Social Contract, Emile, Discourse”).

While he received incredible backlash for his written piece The Social Contract, it was made very clear that the government felt disrespected and angry for one to discriminate their union. Rousseau later fled to Switzerland to seek refuge (Bertram), and to avoid being arrested or worse, executed.

Continuity and Change

His theory of “nascent societies” were formed when human began to live together as families and neighbours; this became negative and destructive passions, that raised social inequality and human vice (Smith). This theory is similar to what today's modern society and humanity, lives in and will likely continue for centuries to come.

As Rousseau preached for change in order to achieve an equal society with individual freedom -- alongside other Enlightened thinkers who also wrote about absolutism, paved way for a more democratic government in some parts of Europe today.

Historical Perspective

Through the lense of his own childlike experiences; Rousseau was attracted to the idea of childhood innocence corrupted by adulthood and sexuality and later applied it to his own concept of human life ("Legacy: The West And The World" 146).

Government's reaction to Rousseau's The Social Contract was inferior as they disapproved of his ideas as it went against everything the government had stood for.

Historical Significance

Rousseau created new concepts of political authority: the "general will", in which defines everyone's will within society collectively, and "the common good" means the overall good of society and individuals ("Legacy: The West And The World" 146).

The Social Contract: A contract between an individual and the government, in which the individual will give up their "general will" for "the common good".