Rousseau, "Emile" and "The Social Contract"

Rob Edwards

Rousseau, “Emile” and “The Social Contract”

Thesis: In “Emile,” Rousseau argues for educational reforms that would instill in children self confidence, self reliance, and emotional security.

• Understands that children shouldn't be treated like adults, but should rather have the freedom to explore and learn about the world

• Reading is the curse of childhood, because it is forced upon them at an age when they don't need it

• Give kids constant exercise to make him strong and healthy in order to make him good and wise

• Children must be a pupil of nature in order to be as self reliant and well educated as possible

• Nature teaches the child much quicker because the child is not aware that he has any lesson to learn, so body and mind work together to carry out only his own ideas

Thesis: Rousseau states in “The Social Contract” that there must be a reform of the political system in order to create a successful society where there is true political liberty.

• Rousseau has a contempt for absolute monarchy and sought to provide a theoretical foundation for political liberty

• “Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains.”

  • Human nature is originally good, but has been corrupted by society

• To renounce liberty is to renounce being a man

• All legitimate authority stems from human traditions, not from nature

• “The total alienation of each associate, together will all his rights, to the whole community; for, in the first place, as each gives himself absolutely, the conditions are the same for all; and, this being so, no one has any interest in making them burdensome to others.”

• The general will of the people can successfully direct the State towards the common good

• When factions arise, then the goals of each of those parties overtake the general will and lead to the downfall of the state

• Each citizen should only think is own thoughts without any factions confounding his judgement