Difference between revisions of "Jean Jacques Rousseau"
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| − | Swiss-born political philosopher Jean Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778) wrote several controversial works. He felt that politics and morality could not be separated, and that the will of the majority was not always correct. Many Americans today would agree with that view. However, Rousseau also attacked private property, and laid the groundwork for future communist writers such as Karl Marx. Rousseau declared that government's goal should be to provide freedom, equality and justice. But note that freedom often results in inequality. | + | Swiss-born political philosopher Jean Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778) wrote several controversial works. He felt that politics and morality could not be separated, and that the will of the majority was not always correct. Many Americans today would agree with that view. However, Rousseau also attacked private property, and laid the groundwork for future communist writers such as [[Karl Marx]]. Rousseau declared that government's goal should be to provide freedom, equality and justice. But note that freedom often results in inequality. |
Rousseau's most famous work was the "The Social Contract" (1762), which supported a direct democracy rather than the republican form of government adopted 25 years later by the U.S. Constitution. Rousseau's "[[social contract]]" was a contract among free people to create government. Rousseau disapproved of titles like nobility, and demanded complete equality between all people. | Rousseau's most famous work was the "The Social Contract" (1762), which supported a direct democracy rather than the republican form of government adopted 25 years later by the U.S. Constitution. Rousseau's "[[social contract]]" was a contract among free people to create government. Rousseau disapproved of titles like nobility, and demanded complete equality between all people. | ||
Revision as of 13:39, March 11, 2007
Swiss-born political philosopher Jean Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778) wrote several controversial works. He felt that politics and morality could not be separated, and that the will of the majority was not always correct. Many Americans today would agree with that view. However, Rousseau also attacked private property, and laid the groundwork for future communist writers such as Karl Marx. Rousseau declared that government's goal should be to provide freedom, equality and justice. But note that freedom often results in inequality.
Rousseau's most famous work was the "The Social Contract" (1762), which supported a direct democracy rather than the republican form of government adopted 25 years later by the U.S. Constitution. Rousseau's "social contract" was a contract among free people to create government. Rousseau disapproved of titles like nobility, and demanded complete equality between all people.