The Social Contract

Author: Jean-Jacques Rousseau

This is a tough book that I understand is typically misunderstood. I understand why, as I found it hard to follow from his arguments if Rousseau would be considered someone who prioritizes liberty, or advocates for totalitarianism.

Rousseau kicks off the book by stating: man is born free, yet everywhere he is in chains. This is a statement that makes it sound like Rousseau advocates for liberty, but from reading, I think Rousseau’s ideas would tend more towards totalitarianism or the ever elusive communist utopia, than liberty. I hear echoes of Rousseau in some of Marx’s famous lines.

Jean argues that there needs to be a two way social contract between individuals and the state. The states obligation is to respect the individual and give them as much freedom as possible, but the individual must simultaneously lay down some of their own wants/desires for the good of the entire society. He calls society the “Sovereign”, and is the most important ruler in his mind. The sovereigns will trumps the will of any individual.

Rousseau argues against absolute power of a monarchy. He thinks people should sometimes vote on what is best for society, but does state that at times a dictator may be needed in emergencies, and temporary powers should be afforded them. He also argues that society should have one religion since it would align people under one worldview and forces them into a collective, which he feels would be for the common good.

I always dry heave a bit when I hear people advocating for a focus on the nebulous concept of the “greater good” or the “collective over the individual”. I know Jean was born in Geneva, but what is it about these French speaking philosophers that gave birth to some of the dumbest (yet very prevalent) philosophies and ways to structure our lives and societies? *Cough Cough Jacques Derrida.