2 DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Discussion: Rousseau’s Understanding of Nature
Discuss Rousseau’s understanding of nature.
Does society or civilization have a positive or negative effect on our nature? Or is it both positive and negative?
Is is possible to speak of our natural state (outside of society), or is our life in society our natural state?
Discussion: Rousseau’s Social Contract
Rousseau proposes a social contract which will create a unified state and government where people agree on most things. He is critical of the existence of “partial societies” in the state, because they will prevent people from knowing and following the general will.
What degree of agreement is necessary in a state? Are there many or few principles that should be agreed to by all?
Is Rousseau correct or incorrect in being suspicious of “partial societies”? Could they play a positive role in the state?
