Jean Jacques Rousseau Research Paper
Rousseau and Montesquieu
The 18th century, the Age of Enlightenment, most assuredly produced many revolutionary changes throughout Europe. This Age of Enlightenment intensely emphasized human intelligence and analytical reason. This brought forth an innate desire for the progression of man. The changes which were most abundant during this century can be seen predominantly in Europe 's society, economy, as well as their political systems. Two theorists who were especially essential to the Age of Enlightenment were Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Montesquieu who was originally known as Charles Louis de Secondat, Baron de la Brede et de. The more influential of these two, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, philosophized and wrote on nearly everything from the corruption of humanity to education to even music. Montesquieu philosophized and satirized and established a remarkable influence on politics, society, literature, and ecclesiastical matters. Both of these philosophes had a colossal effect on their society, economy, and political systems which can be seen even today.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau was probably one of the most accomplished writers of the Age of Enlightenment, but his writing gives only a glimpse of his …show more content…
accomplishments. Botanist, lucrative musician, theorist of society and politics, and philosopher were just a few of the faces Jean-Jacques Rousseau wore throughout his life. Rousseau exploration of man 's timeless corruption is best revealed in his Discourse on the Origin and Foundation of Inequality Among Mankind where Rousseau supported his view that social and scientific institutions corrupted humankind. Being years ahead of his time, Rousseau drew much opposition for his radical views that natural or primitive man was ethically superior to modern man.
In 1762, Jean-Jacques Rousseau wrote The Social Contract, a political dissertation which argued for civil liberty on all levels, criticized divine right, and eventually asserted itself as the fundamental text for the French Revolution. It is clear that Rousseau believed in civil liberty and individual freedom for all citizens, yet he also believed in a strict authority to govern over them. This can be observed in Rousseau 's The Social Contract where he states:
As nature gives every man an absolute power over all his limbs, the social pact gives the body politic an absolute power over all its members; and it is the same power which, when directed by the general will, bears, as I said, the name of sovereignty. (Rousseau 230)
Rousseau definitely believed in equality and "power to the people," as he openly criticized divine right.
In his novel Émile, written in 1762, Jean-Jacques Rousseau explored new theories concerning education and society.
His theories severely degrade philosophies regarding divine right and emphasize natural as well as manual labor. In Émile, Rousseau makes this quite clear by stating that of all the trades "which can furnish substance to man, that which most nearly approaches to the state nature is manual labor...do not work from necessity, work for glory. Lower yourself to the splendor of the artisan in order to be above your own" (Rousseau 232-233). Although his beliefs regarding the government 's role in society could be considered by some as oppressive or totalitarian, Rousseau 's writings played an incredibly important role in Europe 's individual rights
movement.
Montesquieu, an equally influential yet perhaps less radical philosopher, contributed to the Age of Enlightenment with his philosophy, theories, and satire. As Jean-Jacques Rousseau 's The Social Contract served to help the French Revolution, Montesquieu 's masterwork L 'espirit des lois, or The Spirit of Laws, was heavily relied upon by the fathers of the U.S. Constitution. This book proposed and strongly advocated the political concept of separation of powers. Although this was not necessarily a completely new idea, Montesquieu unquestionably updated it with the view of a separate legislative, judicial, and executive power. In The Spirit of Laws, Montesquieu believes when "the legislative and executive powers are united in the same person, or in the same body of magistrates, there can be no liberty...there is no liberty if the judiciary power be not separated from the legislative and executive" (Montesquieu 219).
Montesquieu condemned the French penal code and believed that crimes should fixed set of punishments fitting the degree of the crime. This, united with his theory on an impartial and random jury created a judicial system with an extremely low likelihood of corruption. In order to keep the control divided, Montesquieu believed in a multi-body legislature which would have no power to impeach the monarchal executive branch. Although the law would protect the executives as subjects, they too could be subject to investigation and if necessary, conviction. With beliefs and philosophies which can still be observed in this day and age, Rousseau and Montesquieu were unquestionably two of the most influential philosophers of their time.
Works Cited
1. Montesquieu. The Spirit of Laws. The Western
Tradition. Ed. Eugen Weber. Vol. 2. Lexington: D.C. Heath and Company, 1995. 217-222.
2. Rousseau, Jean-Jacques. Émile. The Western
Tradition. Ed. Eugen Weber. Vol. 2. Lexington: D.C. Heath and Company, 1995. 232-234.
3. Rousseau, Jean-Jacques. The Social Contract. The Western
Tradition. Ed. Eugen Weber. Vol. 2. Lexington: D.C. Heath and Company, 1995. 224-232.
The 18th century, the Age of Enlightenment, most assuredly produced many revolutionary changes throughout Europe. This Age of Enlightenment intensely emphasized human intelligence and analytical reason. This brought forth an innate desire for the progression of man. The changes which were most abundant during this century can be seen predominantly in Europe 's society, economy, as well as their political systems. Two theorists who were especially essential to the Age of Enlightenment were Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Montesquieu who was originally known as Charles Louis de Secondat, Baron de la Brede et de. The more influential of these two, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, philosophized and wrote on nearly everything from the corruption of humanity to education to even music. Montesquieu philosophized and satirized and established a remarkable influence on politics, society, literature, and ecclesiastical matters. Both of these philosophes had a colossal effect on their society, economy, and political systems which can be seen even today.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau was probably one of the most accomplished writers of the Age of Enlightenment, but his writing gives only a glimpse of his …show more content…
accomplishments. Botanist, lucrative musician, theorist of society and politics, and philosopher were just a few of the faces Jean-Jacques Rousseau wore throughout his life. Rousseau exploration of man 's timeless corruption is best revealed in his Discourse on the Origin and Foundation of Inequality Among Mankind where Rousseau supported his view that social and scientific institutions corrupted humankind. Being years ahead of his time, Rousseau drew much opposition for his radical views that natural or primitive man was ethically superior to modern man.
In 1762, Jean-Jacques Rousseau wrote The Social Contract, a political dissertation which argued for civil liberty on all levels, criticized divine right, and eventually asserted itself as the fundamental text for the French Revolution. It is clear that Rousseau believed in civil liberty and individual freedom for all citizens, yet he also believed in a strict authority to govern over them. This can be observed in Rousseau 's The Social Contract where he states:
As nature gives every man an absolute power over all his limbs, the social pact gives the body politic an absolute power over all its members; and it is the same power which, when directed by the general will, bears, as I said, the name of sovereignty. (Rousseau 230)
Rousseau definitely believed in equality and "power to the people," as he openly criticized divine right.
In his novel Émile, written in 1762, Jean-Jacques Rousseau explored new theories concerning education and society.
His theories severely degrade philosophies regarding divine right and emphasize natural as well as manual labor. In Émile, Rousseau makes this quite clear by stating that of all the trades "which can furnish substance to man, that which most nearly approaches to the state nature is manual labor...do not work from necessity, work for glory. Lower yourself to the splendor of the artisan in order to be above your own" (Rousseau 232-233). Although his beliefs regarding the government 's role in society could be considered by some as oppressive or totalitarian, Rousseau 's writings played an incredibly important role in Europe 's individual rights
movement.
Montesquieu, an equally influential yet perhaps less radical philosopher, contributed to the Age of Enlightenment with his philosophy, theories, and satire. As Jean-Jacques Rousseau 's The Social Contract served to help the French Revolution, Montesquieu 's masterwork L 'espirit des lois, or The Spirit of Laws, was heavily relied upon by the fathers of the U.S. Constitution. This book proposed and strongly advocated the political concept of separation of powers. Although this was not necessarily a completely new idea, Montesquieu unquestionably updated it with the view of a separate legislative, judicial, and executive power. In The Spirit of Laws, Montesquieu believes when "the legislative and executive powers are united in the same person, or in the same body of magistrates, there can be no liberty...there is no liberty if the judiciary power be not separated from the legislative and executive" (Montesquieu 219).
Montesquieu condemned the French penal code and believed that crimes should fixed set of punishments fitting the degree of the crime. This, united with his theory on an impartial and random jury created a judicial system with an extremely low likelihood of corruption. In order to keep the control divided, Montesquieu believed in a multi-body legislature which would have no power to impeach the monarchal executive branch. Although the law would protect the executives as subjects, they too could be subject to investigation and if necessary, conviction. With beliefs and philosophies which can still be observed in this day and age, Rousseau and Montesquieu were unquestionably two of the most influential philosophers of their time.
Works Cited
1. Montesquieu. The Spirit of Laws. The Western
Tradition. Ed. Eugen Weber. Vol. 2. Lexington: D.C. Heath and Company, 1995. 217-222.
2. Rousseau, Jean-Jacques. Émile. The Western
Tradition. Ed. Eugen Weber. Vol. 2. Lexington: D.C. Heath and Company, 1995. 232-234.
3. Rousseau, Jean-Jacques. The Social Contract. The Western
Tradition. Ed. Eugen Weber. Vol. 2. Lexington: D.C. Heath and Company, 1995. 224-232.