The Social Contract Study Guide

The Social Contract Summary

Rousseau begins The Social Contract with the notable phrase "Man is born free, but everywhere he is in chains." Because these chains are not found in the state of nature, they must be constructions of convention. Rousseau thus seeks the basis for a legitimate, political authority in which people must give up their natural liberty. He sets two conditions for a lawful polity and creates several clauses to ensure that they are carried out. First, there must be no relationships of particular dependence in the state, and second, by obeying the laws, an individual only obeys himself.

Rousseau's solution to the problem of legitimate authority is the "social contract," an agreement by which the people band together for their mutual preservation…

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Posted By ardi at Mar 07, 2013 7:12 AM

note on the opposition between nature and culture after rousseau

on the basis of rousseau's book the social contract

The Social Contract | Answers: 1

Posted By dim s #280869 at Nov 05, 2012 6:01 PM

Rousseau seems to hover between two poles, the first being that the general will is the will of the assembled people provided they meet the special conditions and the other is that the general will is always right and always tends towards the public utili

if you think its possible explain how and if not explain which one is most important for his view? and why?

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Posted By jacob c #266617 at Sep 09, 2012 5:34 AM

A human being is a social animal. Discuss.

the question is a nature versus nurture debate fof social psychologists

The Social Contract | Answers: 1