Rousseau: Society, Education, and the Origin of Inequality
Rousseau: Society and Education
Inequality as the Origin of Evil
Rousseau’s work, particularly his Discourse on the Origin of Inequality Among Men, explores the transition from the natural state of humanity to the complexities of society. The Discourse is divided into two parts:
- A reconstruction of the human being’s natural state, emphasizing developed senses, freedom, and perfectibility. Rousseau argues that in this state, humans are content with little, but are still subject to disease and old age.
- An analysis of the transition from the state of nature to society, highlighting the establishment of inequality. Rousseau identifies property as the primary cause of inequality, leading to economic dependence, ambition, conflict, and the imposition of the rich. He famously stated that the first person to enclose land and declare it his own was the true founder of civil society.
Legitimacy of Status: The Social Contract
Rousseau argues that the development of society has led to a state that does not conform to nature. To ensure natural freedom and avoid slavery, he proposes a social contract. This agreement involves each individual submitting to the general will of the sovereign people, thereby empowering the state to ensure freedom. In Rousseau’s contract theory, sovereignty resides in the people, and the government, institutions, and religion are all subject to the social contract.
The legitimacy of power is a central issue for Rousseau. He rejects the notion that power is based on natural force or a contract of submission. Instead, the state guarantees political freedom and property for all, ensuring that no one is given more than anyone else in the community. This generates the general will, which guides the government to act with justice through laws and state institutions. Finally, a legitimate republic educates citizens to prioritize the general interest through policies that incorporate civil religion.
Education in Emile
Rousseau addresses the problem of education in his work, Emile. This extensive work proposes following the natural development of the human being through stages of moral conscience, reasonable sensitivity, feelings, and natural impulses. The foundations of this education are:
- The natural goodness of the human being.
- The importance of educating the child freely in nature, allowing the teacher to guide the child to discover things for themselves.
- Equality as a natural right, and the need to prevent social inequality through early education that follows the path set by nature.
The goal of education, according to Rousseau, is to first create a human being, then a family member, and finally a citizen. Education must address both morality and religion. Rousseau rejects positive religions, arguing that they lead to oppression and violence. Instead, he emphasizes the importance of the heart, which leads to experiencing God. He suggests a moral rule of not hurting anyone and acting against fanaticism, advocating for tolerance.