Formal Paper For Social Contract

Running head: FORMAL PAPER FOR SOCIAL

CONTRACT 1

Formal Paper for Social Contract

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Institution

FORMAL PAPER FOR SOCIAL CONTRACT 2

Introduction

The Social Contract by Jean-Jacques Rousseau aims to determine how freedom is possible

within the civil society. In any given state of nature, we are accustomed to the provision of

physical freedom without any form of restraints on how we conduct ourselves. Therefore,

the social contract is aimed at ensuring that our behavioral patterns are restrained, allowing

us to live in the community. Jacques approach is that by giving up our physical freedom,

we are allowing room for civil freedom that allows us to think rationally. It also allows us

to evaluate our impulses and desires while ensuring that we think from a moral perspective.

The author begins with the phrase, “man is born free, but he is everywhere in chains”

(Rousseau, 2017). In his understanding, Rousseau states that states are focused on the

provision of physical freedom but oblivious to civil freedom. Therefore, by incorporating

aspects such as morality, we get to understand the constructs of entering a civil society

upon which all citizens are focused on mutual preservation. Some concepts are used across

the book to focus on particular aspects or describe certain situations. The focus of this paper

will be presenting the notions and ideas provided by Rousseau in understanding his

perception of the social contract.

One terminology that has been used widely across the book is the term sovereign.

According to Rousseau, it is used to explain a collective grouping of all citizens and how

they should be considered as an individual person. This term has been used widely within

the text to explain the concept of the social contract as it adopts an approach that each

person has an aim that expresses their interest, a sovereign focus on the aim of the common

good (Rousseau, 2017). Therefore, the main sovereign focus is based on matters regarding

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public concern. For those people that violate the social contract, Rousseau suggests the

incorporation of the death penalty.

Influence and background of the knowledge

According to the book, Rousseau is mainly influenced by two lines or groups that include

the voluntarist tradition and the liberal tradition. Both these groups have a certain approach

to the social contract. For instance, the voluntarist adopts the theories of people such as

Hobbes, Pufendorf, and Grotius who are in support of the absolute monarchy. According

to these individuals, any person that enters into such a society is accepting being under the

rule of the king or ruler within this given state. Therefore, it protects the individual from

the outside life which is the main goal of the rule (Rousseau, 2017). On the other hand, the

liberal tradition is more focused on perceptions of people such as Locke and Montesquieu

whose argument is more focused on the notion that the society must protect the inalienable

rights of its citizens (Rousseau, 2017). Therefore, the approach that Rousseau adopts is

borrowing from the two perspectives but at the same time, criticizing them based on many

aspects such as citizenship. In addition, Rosseau is more aligned with notions that the

ancient Greeks and Romans stood for, this is seen in his reference to Sparta as a healthy

state where aspects such as strong civic spirit, characterized what the state stood for.

Citizenship was an aspect that defined who a person was and an honor to uphold. With that

approach, Rousseau is influenced by the political framework and understanding of

Aristotle (Rousseau, 2017).

Terminologies used within the text.

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In addition to the sovereign, the author introduces certain terms that are applicable within

the text. These terms form the basis of what the author talks about in The Social Contract,

and they include;

Social Contract

The term is used in the description of the agreement that one enters with the civil society.

According to Rosseau, it is a contract that binds the people in the community through

mutual preservation and makes an individual sacrifice their physical freedom. They have

to let go of their freedoms especially on doing whatever they want and focus on gaining

civil freedom to think in both a rational and moral way. As per the text, a person only

becomes fully human by entering into a social contract (Rousseau, 2017).

Government

Government is a very important element in society and is used to present the executive

power and is tasked with taking care of issues that impact the day-to-day business of the

society. According to Rousseau, many forms of government can be adopted by a society

an some of the time include democracy, aristocracy, and monarchs among others

(Rousseau, 2017). They each have a certain approach to leadership, but their role is to

ensure that they represent the government in the best way possible. However, Rousseau

states that the government is not sovereign, and as such, cannot represent the people on

certain issues or matters (Rousseau, 2017). Additionally, the approach that Rousseau

adopts indicates that the sovereign is often in the conflict which can be bad for the state.

Law

The law is an abstract expression of general will that is applicable within a given society.

A doctrine or the expression will only qualify to be a law if it adopts a universal approach

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and record what a people desire. In this case, the laws can be argued to ensure that people

remain loyal to the sovereign.

General will and will of all

Here, will mainly focus on how each has its desire. As such, the general will is linked to

the collective aim of all in regards to the common good. Therefore, it is what is best for all

within the state. Rousseau as such focuses on the discussion of the term to explain and

express what is best for them all. On the other hand, will of all is the comprehensive will

of each. In some scenarios, the will of all is similar to the general will as they both focused

on the concept of the common good. Whichever the case, the general will and will of all

are two great components in the lives of individuals as they ensure that the concept of the

common good is met. Rousseau focuses on this to explain that people have their freedom

of choice and should be incorporated within any state.

State of Nature and Civil Society

Rousseau’s views on the state of nature are linked to the notion of human life and how life

itself would be without the influence on society. His view is that there was a different form

or way of life that came prior to use existing. He has discussed on the prehistoric state of

people, and the social contract only provides a more ambivalent approach. Therefore, in

the state of nature, we are allowed to do whatever we want, and that is the concept of

freedom provided that our desires and impulses are not influenced or tempered by our

reasoning. Physical freedom is present, but there is a lack of morality and rationality. In

comparison to slavery, Rousseau thinks that the state of nature is much better.

When it comes to the concepts of civil society, Rousseau argues that it is opposite to what

the state of nature represents. Any person that agrees to enter within a given community is

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agreeing to the concepts of civil society and with it comes the civil freedom and social

contract. It consists of looking after one another and learning to be both rational and moral.

Freedom or Liberty

State of nature provides people with physical freedom that allows them to not live in a

slavery-like manner. This is the whole reasoning behind the social contract as it tries to

eliminate the problem that is presented with freedom. Not restricting the actions of the

individual is the approach that is undertaken in this case and within most contemporary

societies, there is a lack of physical freedom as people are bound to governments or

monarchs. Therefore, the social contract provided by Rousseau aims to secure the concept

of civil freedom by accompanying it with the life in social contract within the society. It

comes with an agreement not to harm any citizens but at the same time, leading people to

moral and rational approaches. Civil freedom is superior to physical freedom since people

are not slaves to their impulses.

Summary

Looking at the summary of the text, one needs to start from the very first chapter that begins

with the phrase, “Man was born free, and he is everywhere in chains.” It is a phrase that

presents a metaphorical approach with a deeper meaning that the reader needs to

understand to move forward. The chains are in this case used to represent the constraints

that are kept on the freedom of citizens within modern states. In addition, the first chapter

also presents an overview of what to expect within the book as it aims to evaluate whether

there can be a legitimate political authority. In addition, it determines whether the state can

exist by upholding rather than constraining the liberty of its citizens.

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From the very beginning, one can see how Rousseau rejects the notion of legitimate

political authority or power that is present in nature. He argues that the only existing and

warrantied natural form of authority in the form of authority that a father has over their

child and in this case, the form of power exists through the preservation of the child mindset

and notions. Rousseau pays very keen attention and reference to the likes of Grotius and

Hobbes as he uses them to prove his point within the context of the text. He uses them as

comparison more so on their views on political frameworks and agendas. Therefore, in the

natural assertion of power exhibited between a father to their child, Grotius and Hobbes

argue that it is linked to the fact that because the rule, in this case, the father cares for the

child, meaning that they may exercise some form of power over them. Therefore, the form

of power that is exhibited in this case is by force, and it played a significant role in how

superiority is perpetuated by force. In addition, Rousseau also states that legitimate power

is not founded on force and as such, presenting the maxim might make right on the weak

should not be obedient to the strong. Following this assertion, it would mean that those

people that follow the leaders do so because they have no choice. On the other hand, if the

followers overthrow their ruler, then it is also right because they are taking power based on

strength. However, Rousseau is against this as there is no demonstration of any form of

power whatsoever in this case.

As a result, Rousseau came up with a suggestion that focused on answering the

legitimization of political authority through the social contract. In this case, the rule of law

in addition to other aspects such as will and power were involved. It was forged by the

members of the society and eliminated any form of strength or weakness based on the

presented scenarios. The work that he adopts in social contract focuses on previous works

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that had been conducted within the same field by authors such as Grotius whose approach

is somewhat not very different from Rousseau’s. in his approach, Grotius focused on a

proposition whereby there was a covenant between the King and his people which he

named as being a right of slavery. People agreed to surrender their freedom to the king, but

no specific return for this freedom was being mentioned. All the king needed to do was

keep himself fed out of the work that his followers did. However, using this approach, there

was a lot of aspects that were left unclear such as the aspect of civil peace, the notion of

slavery and the impact it had on the people as a whole. It is as such impossible to surrender

your freedom and still call the exchange fair seeing that one surrenders not only their

freedom but their rights. One is left without having any right to ask for anything

whatsoever. Therefore, it is through this approach or loophole that Rousseau tries to come

up with a much better approach to how the scenario can be made better by implementing

the aspect of moral significance. He indicates that our actions can only be controlled by the

moral principles we abide by and are only realizable if we do so freely. By giving away

our freedom, this morality and humanity are lost.

Another aspect that Rousseau objects to is the suggestion that prisoners of war could be

slaves by focusing on an even exchange. In this case, the captives would give their life to

the people that caught them as a form of exchange for their freedom. However, Rousseau

argues that there is no way that the war had anything to do with an individual’s freedom.

In most cases, when countries or states go to war, they do it for the sake of properties. As

such, when an enemy surrender, they become a man and not an enemy. He also adds that

the people living in monarchs are slaves as they have no freedom or rights. An important

part of freedom is one being able to deliberate on issues and agreeing on what they need to

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do. For instance, people are free can come together, talk about certain topics or aspects

without the fear of being executed or condemned for their actions. People are free to have

to be free to come together and discuss what is best for them as there might reach a point

where individuals are required to come together for the sake of the state. It is through the

social contract that Rousseau suggests these aspects as it solves the problem by suggesting

that people can bind themselves as one and still keep their freedom.

Within the social context, the focus is mainly on the presentation of each to surrender to

the community as a whole rather than the power. It focuses on three main implications that

include, similarity and unity in the conditions of the social contract, by surrendering people

give away any rights that might be in opposition to the state and everybody is equal, and

they do not lose their natural freedom by entering into a social contract. A social contract

ensures that the lives of those people that enter into it come together, and so do their wills.

In summary, it may be seen as a distinct and unified front where the life and will of people

within the community come together. The entity is often called a city or in ancient times,

a polis. Within recent times, it is known as a republic or a state. In its active form, it is even

known as a sovereign with the main aspect being the effective following of the social

contract. An important aspect to note is that the people within the sovereign have to submit

themselves as subject to the sovereign but in a community-based approach.

One notable approach that is seen when Rousseau is discussing the sovereign is that he

treats it as an individual. He does not consider the people in it nor the communities but

rather, he mentions it as one. In this case, the argument that can be provided for this is that

seeing that no individual can be bound to a self-contract, then it means that the sovereign

does not bind or impose any contract with anyone. The subjects may be doubly bounded

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whereas individuals; they are bound to the sovereign while as members of the sovereign,

they are bound to others (Rousseau, 2017). The sovereign owes its existence to the social

contract and as such, there is nothing that it can do against the contact. In addition, if it

decides to hurt the people, it would only be hurting itself. When it comes to the people,

they might need incentives to remain loyal. However, there are cases where the self-

interested people may try and make use of their citizenship fully without having to obey or

focus on being a subject. Therefore, Rousseau’s explanation to this is that those unwilling

subjects will only be forced to obey the general will which will lead to them being forced

to be free.

Inequality is also another looked at topic or area. In this case, the author draws from the

difference that exists between nature and civil society. Therefore, Rousseau states that one

may lose their physical liberty which will impact the ability we may have to our instincts

but in return, gain some civil liberty. Civil liberty is important as it makes certain that we

are limited on certain aspects such as reasoning and general will on the behavior and

making us moral to a certain angle. Our actions, in this case, play a very important role and

we have to take actions for them in one way or another. The discussion of the property also

presents the rights of ownership of the land where one is the legitimate owner if no one

claims the land in the first place. When it comes to the social contract, the land and the

individual are surrendered to the sovereign and the general will. However, at the same time,

the landowner does not also give up his rights to the land since he is a subject of the

sovereign.

Analytical overview

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Rousseau's main point recorded as a hard copy The Social Contract is to decide how

opportunity might be conceivable in common society, and we may do well to delay quickly

and comprehend what he implies by "opportunity." In the condition of nature, we

appreciate the physical opportunity of having no restrictions on our conduct. By going into

the implicit understanding, we place restrictions on our conduct, which make it conceivable

to live in a network. By surrendering our physical opportunity, be that as it may, we gain

the common opportunity of having the capacity to think sanely. We can put a keep an eye

on our driving forces and wants, and along these lines figure out how to think ethically.

The expression "ethical quality" includes importance inside the limits of common society,

as indicated by Rousseau (2017).

Freedom, at that point, yet additionally sanity and profound quality, are just conceivable

inside common society. Furthermore, considerate society says Rousseau, is just

conceivable on the off chance that we consent to the implicit understanding. Along these

lines, we don't just need to thank society for the shared assurance and harmony it bears us;

we likewise owe our levelheadedness and profound quality to common society. To put it

plainly, we would not be human on the off chance that we were not dynamic members in

the public arena.

This last advance decides the intensely communitarian viewpoint that Rousseau receives.

On the off chance that we must be completely human under the sponsorship of the implicit

understanding, at that point that agreement could easily compare to the people that consent

to it. All things considered; those people have esteem since they consent to that agreement.

The agreement isn't attested by every individual independently to such an extent as it is

certified by the gathering by and large. Along these lines, the gathering aggregately could

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easily compare to every person that influences it to up. The sovereign and the general will

could compare to its subjects and their specific wills. Rousseau ventures to such an extreme

as to discuss the sovereign as a particular person that can provide demonstration

voluntarily.

We may respond to these contentions with genuine reservations, and in reality, Rousseau

has been blamed for supporting authoritarianism. We live during a time where singular

rights are considered imperatively significant, and it is offending to believe that we are

little pieces of a more prominent entirety. Instead of make opportunity conceivable, it

would appear to us that Rousseau's framework disavows opportunity. Rousseau would not

accept these charges without a fight, in any case. Taking a gander at us in the new thousand

years, he may recommend that we are not free by any means. In general, we may come up

short on any sort of close to home organization or activity. We regularly experience issues

cooperating in any important manner, and it could be contended that our choices and

conduct are generally directed to us by a customer culture that disheartens singular idea.

His framework, he may guarantee, appears to be ugly to us since we have completely lost

the network soul that makes individuals need to be as one. Natives in his optimal republic

are not constrained into a network: they consent to it for their shared advantage. He may

contend that the natives of old Greece and Rome were dynamic and fit for accomplishments

that we have not verged on imitating since. The people group soul that assembled them

didn't encroach upon their singularity; rather, it gave distinction an outlet for its fullest

articulation.

The best reaction to Rousseau (besides pointing out that those social orders depended on

subjugation and abuse) may be to state that the world has changed from that point forward.

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We could get from social scholar Jurgen Habermas the refinement between the open circle

and the private circle, and recommend that Rousseau does not give cautious enough

consideration regarding the last mentioned. Even though Rousseau permits residents to do

whatever they please in as much as it doesn't meddle with open interests, regardless he

appears to accept that human identity is here and there open. He doesn't appear to see a

refinement between our identity openly and what we are in private. By requesting such

dynamic citizenship, he is requesting that our open persona outweigh our private self.

Discussion

In order to understand the approach that Rousseau adopts within the text, it is essential to

understand the concept of nature. He utilizes it within the text to focus on areas within the

society and to present his philosophy by focusing on the common enlightenment through

steadily improving humanity with suggestions of a better state of nature. He embraces the

notion that modern society can indeed benefit us greatly if understood and approached from

a certain angle or perspective. The terms nature and natural state are without any doubt

used extensively within the text, but it is not clear the true purpose of their use. However,

based on a slight overview and understanding of the contexts that they have been used,

they are applicable in explaining the previous state that people used to live by. It was a

state of affairs that included no government, laws, or private property. Nonetheless, he

explains it from a historical perspective where he uses the notion of the state of affairs.

Within the text, his focus or interest in history is very minimal. An aspect that leaves room

to focus on the more pressing issues such as human nature and archeology. There is the

presentation of a philosophical conviction that is driven by how people participate and take

part in political associations. He focuses on adopting the precise ways in which political

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frameworks shape our thoughts and behaviors and to what extent. Therefore, the phrase

“natural state” in this case can be argued to align to how the author tries to represent how

people used to live without the political frameworks. Therefore, the natural state is a term

that describes the time that people lives without political institutions and how whatever

was not part of the human society came to be unnatural.

Looking at the concept of equality that the author looks at, there is this picture of a state

that has no property to quarrel over and government that is tasked with one responsibility

which is to enforce inequality of human nature. Within the modern world, the focus on

equality has been mainly looked at from a number of perspectives, but with the social

contract theory, the main focus is on the conflict that it brings forth. Rousseau focuses on

asserting the beliefs of the people in regards to political institutions. Therefore, from

borrowing from the works of Hobbes, Rousseau states that life without political institutions

is a life of solitary, nasty and brutish backgrounds, leading the people and the human

society to unpleasant natural states. Therefore, Hobbes work is used as a reference within

the text, which helps to understand better the portrayal of the human state and the negative

aspects that can affect the smooth running of society. In addition, the emphasis on political

institutions shows how much they are needed as he states that without them, human beings

would be lost. However, Rousseau indicates that it would be difficult to return to the

original state as it would be full of selfishness and greed within the society.

The intention that the author focuses on is contrasting nature and the civil society in this

case. As he argues, society is not part of our natural state as it is formed as we advance and

become a greater part of the society that we live in. As such, the argument that he provides

towards how society is formed in regards to the social contract theory. Within this concept,

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the focus is mainly on people that live close to each other coming together and agreeing to

certain constraints that ensure that they all benefit to a certain idea or laws. Laws are very

important in this case as they ensure that people have a common perspective to follow and

abide by. What Rousseau did, in this case, was affirmed on previous natures that had been

conducted in the past where certain constraints were required for the people to benefit

(Rousseau, 2017). In his text, Rousseau borrows from the works of various people to make

a strong standing on what he is trying to put forth, and to many thinkers and scholars, it is

an effective approach to explaining the concept of the social contract and its application

within the society. It provides reliability and validity in a number of ways as it focuses on

the elevation of the state of nature that unfolds.

Rousseau theory that is presented within the text aims to provide a somewhat unique

approach to what the ones that came before him provided. The Social Contract theory

suggests no legitimate social contract could be forged within a monarchy. He presents

diverse arguments to the assertion that surrendering one’s liberty is similar to surrendering

one’s freedom and consent to the social contract. It renders a person’s contract to the

monarch void following the social contract theory. Therefore, another strength that

Rousseau utilizes is that he inks the freedom of the people to their humanity, eliminating

the ability to make any choices or deliberate on certain choices. He concludes that if a

monarch has absolute power over its people, then they seize from being free to become

slaves within the context of that monarch.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Rousseau focus is mainly on the notion of social contracts and how it binds

people within the sovereign or state. He argues that people should give themselves to the

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sovereign by surrendering their freedom. However, this does not mean that they will be

giving away their freedoms because the sovereign is also subject to the people. Therefore,

by entering into a social contract, one gains civil freedom that in the initial state of nature

voided any ability to be rational and moral. By becoming part of the sovereign, one focuses

on obeying the general will as expressed by the laws of the state. For those people that

violate the social contract, they are violating the constructs that made their freedom

possible. Nonetheless, the state should not force the laws on the people as the people are

the sovereign in the first place.

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Reference

Rousseau, J. J. (2017). The social contract. BoD–Books on Demand.

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