Rousseau’s Ideas Nikita Warren Southern New Hampshire Univers ✓ Solved

Rousseau’s Ideas

The necessity of freedom. Freedom is a problem of political philosophy. Freedom is needed for two reasons: “Natural man is physically free because he is not constrained by a repressive state apparatus or dominated by his fellow men” (Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712–1778), n.d). “Natural man is psychologically and spiritually free because he is not enslaved to any of the artificial needs that characterize modern society” (Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712–1778), n.d). Modern society is different from the previous uncorrupted society where man lived favorably with the state of nature despite having the freedom and liberty to do what they wished. Rousseau was concerned with the nature of freedom. In his general argument, man was previously living in harmony with nature because he had not become a slave to his own needs.

As the needs of man evolved, so did his means of interaction with nature in this case; man used his freedom to do himself good and do good to others. However, modern society is made up of men who have become slaves to their own needs. Man is therefore responsible for the present problems of exploitation, domination, self-esteem issues, and depression.

Rousseau’s Ideas: The social contract. Good government must prioritize the freedom of its citizens because it is the most fundamental objective. Government must affirm the freedom of its citizens with specific restrictions inherent to complex modern civil society. Provided law and property exist, man can never be absolutely free. With the deployment of specific principles, governments can accord its citizens some form of freedom that resembles the kind of freedom man enjoys in the state of nature. Rousseau invoked the concept of the social contract. According to him, government must act in accordance with the freedom needs of society. Apparently, while this sounds appealing, it is impractical. This is the reason why the naturally inherent sense of freedom of man has to be regulated by laws.

The argument that man is not born free but is made free by use of created institutions that seek to protect the rights of man is quite true. Rousseau admits from this fact that the government must make use of institutions to restrict human freedom through laws that are largely non-democratic, as not all people find them good.

Email and social media surveillance and freedom. Emails and social media have resulted from the cooperation and division of labor developments in modern society. Modernization makes the needs of men multiply and include many nonessential things, such as friends, entertainment, and luxury goods. While they are initially pleasurable and good, men eventually become slaves to these luxurious needs and continue to pursue them. Unnaturalness causes moral inequalities. Surveillance reflects the government's intrusion into the sovereign will of the people to stay connected and express their opinions in modern society, bound together by the collective pursuit of superfluous needs. The government often performs surveillance of social media and email communication. This, according to Rousseau, is not right. However, this principle has been adopted in response to what man has made of modern society. The complexities in associations and increased misuse of freedom in the form of the violation of laws force the government to intrude into privacy, the sovereign will, and the freedom of man.

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Rousseau’s philosophy has significantly influenced the understanding of freedom, government, and societal contracts. His discourse on freedom highlights that true liberty can only be attained when individuals are not bound or dominated by societal constraints or artificial needs. In his view, natural man existed in a state of peace and freedom, unfettered by the complexities of modern existence. However, as societies developed, man became entangled in systems that dictated behavior, thereby limiting freedom. This paradox where freedom is often curtailed in the name of law and order is a central theme in Rousseau’s philosophy.

To analyze Rousseau's ideas effectively, it is essential to understand the role of the social contract. Unlike Hobbes, who perceived a strong government as necessary to maintain order, Rousseau envisioned a government that emerged from the collectively expressed will of the people, prioritizing individual freedoms. This social contract serves as a foundation for modern democracy, emphasizing that authority must align with the people's freedoms and needs. The ideal government, according to Rousseau, balances individual freedoms with societal regulations designed to promote the common good.

Modern communication technologies like email and social media have introduced complexities that Rousseau could not have anticipated. Surveillance practiced by governments through these technologies raises ethical concerns about privacy and the extent of governmental authority. Rousseau’s insights suggest that these invasions of privacy infringe upon the very freedoms that societies purportedly aim to protect. The challenge is in reconciling the need for security with the preservation of individual liberty in an era where the boundaries of personal space are increasingly blurred.

The necessity of balancing freedom and societal order remains relevant in contemporary discussions around data privacy, surveillance, and the impact of digital culture on civil liberties. Rousseau's assertion that oppression arises from dependency on artificial needs resonates in today’s consumerist society, where the quest for material goods can overshadow the value of genuine human connection and fulfillment. Modern individuals often find themselves enslaved by consumer habits, reflecting Rousseau’s concerns about modernity’s moral decline.

Moreover, Rousseau's emphasis on the need for a social contract aligns closely with modern democratic ideals, advocating for governance that reflects the collective will of the populace while safeguarding individual liberties. The complexities introduced by technology necessitate a re-evaluation of how governments engage with their citizens, especially concerning privacy and ethical data management. Community perspectives must be integrated into governance, underscoring Rousseau’s belief in the importance of collective commitments to uphold individual freedom.

This duality of freedom and oversight is echoed in the responses of contemporary leaders during crises. For example, Barack Obama's speeches following mass shootings reflect a profound engagement with the emotional and moral implications of trauma, positioning governmental response as both a means of ensuring safety and an acknowledgment of collective grief (Korte, 2016). His reflective compassion underscores the necessity for leaders to intertwine emotional intelligence with pragmatic governance, aligning with Rousseau's belief that empathy plays a critical role in the societal contract.

Ultimately, Rousseau’s ideas challenge us to interrogate the constructs of freedom, government, and modern societal interactions. By understanding that our freedom comes with responsibilities and that societal systems must continually evolve to protect and enhance this freedom, we can work toward a more balanced coexistence where individual liberties are protected yet responsibly governed.

References

• Bernal, P. (2016). Data gathering, surveillance and human rights: recasting the debate. Journal of Cyber Policy.
• Dammann, G. (2012, July 11). For Rousseau, man is born free, but kept free only by compassion. Retrieved from The Guardian.
• Dent, M. S. (2006). Rousseau's Theory of Freedom. Continuum, 1-124.
• Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712–1778). (n.d). Retrieved from Spark Notes.
• Korte, G. (2016). 14 Mass Shootings, 14 Speeches: How Obama Has Responded. USA Today. Gannett Satellite Information Network.
• Lloyd, S. A., & Sreedhar, S. (2018). Hobbes's Moral and Political Philosophy.
• Rousseau, J. J. (2010). The Social Contract. New York: Publisher not identified.
• Rousseau, J. J. (n.d). Discourse on the Origin and Basis of Inequality Among Men.
• Weber, M. (2019). Governmentalities: From Weber to Foucault. Social Theory, 44(1).
• Wolin, S. S. (2004). Democracy Incorporated: Managed Democracy and the Specter of Inverted Totalitarianism. Princeton University Press.