Unrealistic Unselfishness

A detailed Summary of Unrealistic Unselfishness

Jean Jacques Rousseau, in The Social Contract, declares that an individual's general will is the ideal governing force of the state. This essentially calls for a complete separation of the individual from the state, thus forming the Sovereign. Without individual concerns and biases, the collective body rules for the common interest to create and uphold the laws of the Sovereign. Although Rousseau's intentions are undoubtedly pleasant, this concept's flaws lie in its requirement that people put the state's needs above their own. However patriotic this may seem, Rousseau distorts basic human nature by committing the fallacy of idealistically assuming people seek the common good over their own personal well being. Realistically, politics are not the most important element in every citizen's life. It is difficult indeed, to completely separate self-interest and conclude unanimously for the state. The general will's objectives are respectable, but they would be more benefici!

al with a more feasible concept of democracy. Rousseau forms the social contract as a way to preserve freedom through self-government by eliminating individual self-interest. He bases this on the optimistic assertion that society will choose to follow th

Rousseau rightly wants man to be free and his concepts truly have the best interest of society in mind. He wants to purge the evils of self-interest from the governmental system. He believes vanity corrupts the individuals who make the society flow properly and excel. Rousseau also blames the desire for self-improvement for many other problems man faces. He truly believes man's individual greed and biases corrupt his civic judgement and are a detriment to society. Again, Rousseau's arguments, however beneficial they appear in theory, are not realistic.

won't happen. Modern democracy basically combines Rousseau's ideals, with realism and practicality considered. Prosperous society requires an element of citizens' self-interest in the government. The resulting government is a progressive political system with active citizenship and proper representation and initiative for progress.

ual prosperity and opposing standpoints. Individual wants promote an atmosphere of constant deliberation, and John Stuart Mill demonstrates the need for opposing viewpoints. "So essential is this discipline to a real understanding of moral and human subjects, that opponents . . . supply them with the strongest argument which the most skillful devil's advocate can conjure up," because "he who only knows one side of the case, knows little of that. His reasons may be good, and no one may have been able to refute them. But if he is equally unable to refute the reasons on the opposite side: if he does not so much as know what they are, he had no ground for preferring either opinion" (On Liberty, 38-39). Even if a theory is considered truthful at the time, speculation and all possible contradictions can only result in an atmosphere of positive thought and initiative. When faced with the problem of formulating a new and progressive law, citizens must discuss the effect on thems!

e general will. In every society, however, self-interest is the catalyst of progress. For a state to advance and prosper there must be a government, such as the modern form of democracy, that allows for more personality and individuality.

According to Rous

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Approximate Word count = 1442
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Politics