Rousseau and The Social Contract
Target Audience
AS students of philosophy who would like to explore issues of the legitimacy of government and
social obligation.
Key Concepts
Rights, obligations, political consent, contractual agreement.
The Activity
Read Book 1 of The Social Contract by Jean-Jacques Rousseau at:
http://www.constitution.org/jjr/socon_01.htm How cogent do you believe is Rousseau’s
argument for a social contract? What are his major premises? Is government simply the
exercise of power without any legitimacy? What do you believe could be a basis to justify
the legitimacy of government?
Background Knowledge
Students will need to have read the relevant sections of The Social Contract and to have a
general acquaintance with the notions of rights and obligations.
Resources
Visit http://www.angelfire.com/md2/timewarp/rousseau.html and read one of the many available
on-line summaries of Rousseau’s conception of the ‘Social Contract’.
Outcomes
Your research could be organised for a presentation to the class or written up as an essay. You
might also consider asking your class to present their ideas on the legitimacy of government:
does government have any real legitimacy; on what basis?
Helpful hints
How is a ‘social contract’ formed? What is its purpose? How, according to Rousseau, did people
live before they were bound by a social contract? What is Rousseau’s idea of ‘the general will’?
Considerations: Was there ever a historical moment when a contract was formed between a
people and its government? What is the political situation of minorities within a society who
disagree with the policies agreed to by the majority of the population? How do we protect
ourselves from a totalitarian government when we are obliged to obey government on the basis
of a contract? Can a hypothetical contract ever have the same kind of validity as a contract
voluntarily entered into between two living parties?
Going further
• For a stimulating analysis of Rousseau and his ideas, visit:
http://www.constitution.org/jjr/watkins.htm
• Further to explore questions of political obligation, and for an introduction to some complex
philosophical issues, visit: http://www.seop.leeds.ac.uk/entries/political-obligation/