Rousseau: Social Contract Solved a ‘fundamental Problem’

Dictatorships have found it far too easy to use his work to subvert Justice which I think is a shame because I found his work to be the most idealistic and although he is often maligned as someone who believed in oppression (especially because of the quote that people could be ‘forced to be free’); I thought it a bit ironic that I found his sentiments where the most liberal minded, slavery (for example) to him is a continuation of the state of war.  He offered no justification or apology for it (unlike Locke). Slavery is still an issue today and Rousseau’s thoughts are still relevant. It is an abuse and a state of war of person against person.

Iasiah Berlin identifies rousseau’s idea of freedom and coins it positive liberty ‘the wish on the part of the individual to be his own master…I wish to be the instrument of my own not of other men’s acts of will.’ (Reading 4.4 Reading Political Philosophy page 235) He points out the danger in Rouseau’s rationale in his essay ‘Two concepts of Liberty’ ‘This monstrous impersonation which consists in equating what X would choose if he were something he is not, or at least not yet, with what X actually seeks and choose, is at the heart of all political theories of self realisation.’ (Rding 4.4 reading Political Philosophy page 235). The danger is that rousseaus’ ‘general will’ idea will find the moral justification to coerce individuals in the name of ‘freedom’ because it knows what is best for you even if you don’t so you can be ‘forced to be free’.

Rousseau’s ideas though are an important part in the development of political thought and inspirational (even if often subverted). At President Kennedy’s inaugural speech he asked ‘ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.’ This is a direct appeal to a positive Rousseau-ian ideal of freedom. He is saying you have the freedom, you choose, you do! Think first of the common good (general will) and it will be better for us all in the long run and the world will be a happier and more peaceful and secure place.  He was making an appeal not only to his fellow countrymen but also to people across the world from all ideologies. His speech I think would have appealed to people across the globe regardless of what sort of society they came from.

In summing up, although Rousseau’s ideas on utility and justice and freedom for all is inspirational the notion of the general will is abstract and inapplicable and I think could lead to disastrous consequences if put into practice, we only need to look at recent History. So I do not believe that introducing the notion of the general will solved the fundamental problem that he identified. 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Rousseau, Jean-Jacques 1996(ed) The Social Contract. Oxford University Press Pages 54,76,58,66,166,169,45.

Hobbes, Thomas Leviathan. Penguin Classic Page 189.

Berlin, I 1968 ‘Two Concepts of Liberty’ Reading Political Philosophy Reading 4.4 page 235