Rousseau

Definition

Jean-Jacques Rousseau was an 18th-century Genevan philosopher whose ideas on the social contract and the nature of human freedoms significantly influenced political ideology, particularly concerning nationalism, communism, fascism, and authoritarianism. He argued that society's progression had corrupted the natural goodness of man and that political institutions should reflect the general will of the people to ensure liberty and equality.

Related terms

Social Contract:

A theory proposing that individuals consent either explicitly or implicitly to surrender some freedoms to an authority in exchange for security and order within society.

General Will:

The collectively held will aimed at promoting the common good or common interest, overriding individual interests when necessary, as emphasized by Rousseau.

Natural Rights:

Rights that individuals are born with and cannot be taken away by governments, including life, liberty, and property; these rights were philosophically expanded upon by thinkers like John Locke but also resonate in Rousseau's work regarding natural freedom