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A review by jerryw
Of the Social Contract and Other Political Writings by Jean-Jacques Rousseau
4.0
Certainly a very interesting read. One feeling this book gave me was just how far we've come from the earliest of times. I found myself nodding to some statements (I'd still say a small portion though) mentioned in the book. I think my biggest takeaway is just how influential this work has been. It has influenced so many thinkers from the Enlightenment till modern history. It's such a monumental piece of work considering the ripples it has caused in history; it played a huge role in the French Revolution (and thus by extension other revolutions). I'm just amazed at how mankind has advanced through time and have come to realize that I take some of the things that seem to be so common sense now for granted.
Before I try to review the contents of this book in a slightly more subjective manner, I feel like there is really no point in taking anything personally.It's after all some old white guy thinking he can figure out what liberty is I think the best way to approach this book is just to accept that times are different now and we value drastically different things. If you're looking at this book with a modern lens, you'd be surprised how much Rousseau seems to back Totalitarianism. Rousseau often gives examples, but they all make the societies (e.g. the Roman comitia) seem so ideal. I can't believe that people can just agree to disagree and society would allegedly prosper. Or maybe that's just because how polarized we've actually become nowadays.
P.S. (I should also mention that this contains a very European-centric point of view on everything including governments. I can definitely imagine principles and concepts varying greatly if someone outside Europe wrote about how governments should be. So I suppose just read this objectively and don't take it too personal.)
Before I try to review the contents of this book in a slightly more subjective manner, I feel like there is really no point in taking anything personally.
Spoiler
I don't know if this is technically a spoiler-there's not much to spoil-but Rousseau essentially says that people should subscribe to the general will even if they hold different opinions, and should give up physical liberties for "civil liberty"; therefore we can be more "moral", because we are social creatures. I mean there is really not a shortage of controversial points, such as aristocracy being the best form of government and his views on slavery.P.S. (I should also mention that this contains a very European-centric point of view on everything including governments. I can definitely imagine principles and concepts varying greatly if someone outside Europe wrote about how governments should be. So I suppose just read this objectively and don't take it too personal.)