POL SCI 4 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Res Publica, Collective Leadership
8 Feb 2017
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Jean jacques rousseau 1712-78 (french revolution 1789: republican freedom, what, non interference vs. non-domination/ license versus legislation. Republicanism (from res publica - versus res privitas - public matter or thing) Republicanism (1) elite (a) spirited class that does not rule in own interest (b) e. g. electoral college (failed?) (2) popular (a) focus of rousseau (b) emphasizes political participation. Republicanism does not seem to comport with freedom. Opposed to individual liberty in personal life (liberalism) ** freedom as participatory dimension of political life. This is not good enough for rousseau - people who do not rule themselves are not free > non-domination. Non-interference by itself does not grant freedom. Rousseau needs (1) self rule (individual and collective) and (2) non-domination. Liberalism: can have choice but still be dominated. We tend not to think much about/ pay attention to freedom in terms of collective rule, with is largely settled by liberal democracy (but now checks and balances is facing challenges.
