Special Sub-Topic: The Revolutionary Jean Jacques Rousseau Authored by: uglybird Sub-topic of: Philosophers

How does Rousseau describe man in his primal, natural state?

A Noble Savage. Rousseau believed that man in the "state of nature" was naturally good. Still he admitted that a true state of nature probably existed except as an ideal, a standard for comparison. His method for dealing with this discrepancy between reality and theory was to "lay the facts aside, as they do not affect the question."

Rousseau felt that social living corrupted us leading to such ills as private property and social classes. Which of the following is his famous phrase arising from this reasoning?

Man was born free, but he is everywhere in chains.. Rousseau maintained that the family was the only "natural society". A "fatal accident" produced private property "from which came economic, political and social inequality, and most of the evils of modern life."

What was Rousseau's remedy for the corruption and slavery of civilized society?

A new social contract. Rousseau advocated neither revolution or democracy.

In Rousseau's view, what would constitute true liberty?

Submission to the "general will" of the citizenry.. Rousseau had a Calvinist background. The notion that freedom can be expressed in obedience is certainly a consistent with a part of New Testament theology emphasized by Calvinists. Rousseau felt that the "general will" might need to be determined by the leader rather than the populace since it was fallible. Ultimately then, we are truly free only when we obey our leader(s) be he a Jefferson or a Stalin.

If an individual was unwilling to adhere to particular precepts and standards of the state Rousseau envisaged, how would this be handled?

Punishment would be administered to force the individual to adhere.. So then, having determined that freedom is obedience the force must be applied to insure the exercise of this freedom.

In Rousseau's writings he argued for a humane and loving approach to children. How could his relationship with his own children be characterized?

He placed the five children he produced with his mistress in orphanages. At one point Rousseau justified this on the basis of his financial inability to support his offspring.

A friend once observed what transpired after a child accidentally kicked a ball into Rousseau's leg. Rousseau became enraged and chased the child, attempting to strike the youngster with his cane.

True. It is notable that a friend rather than a detractor reported this observation.

At age sixteen, when rightly accused of stealing from a wealthy employer how did Rousseau respond?

He blamed a maid and remained silent when she was punished.. An account of this is contained in Rousseau's autobiography.

Rousseau married his mistress only after many years. He claimed he never loved her.

True. Some speculate that Rousseau was being untruthful about his lack of affection for his mistress, Therese. This inconsistency would, in a sense, be consistent.

Rousseau had a number of detractors among whom Rousseau himself should be included. What was the title of his seemingly candid autobiography?

The Confessions of Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Rousseau ultimately feuded with both Diderot and Voltaire. His confessions were, in part, a defense against their criticism.