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What is that supposed to mean in English? In French it usually refers to the eponymous book from Rousseau, that basically explains that leaders powers are alway
by Iv 5y ago
What is that supposed to mean in English? In French it usually refers to the eponymous book from Rousseau, that basically explains that leaders powers are always in balance against the people's will to overthrow them and that there has to be some kind of mutual gains between leaders and the population they rule for it to be stable.
It was mostly an argument in favor of democracy and some kind of redistributive system.
- glial 5y agoThat's true, but I agree with the parent comment that 'contract' implies an initial negotiation and optional agreement, and none of us had that negotiation nor option. It's just a misleading term to use, so it seems like a bit of sophistry.
- hammock 5y ago> 'contract' implies an initial negotiation and optional agreement, and none of us had that negotiation nor option. Marriage contract? In Rousseau's time many women did not have those either.
- s1artibartfast 5y agoSlave contracts were a thing as well, but I think it is pretty clear that the original concept was one of mutual consent.
- s1artibartfast 5y agoI'm not a scholar on the subject, but in Rousseau's time I don't think the idea of a redistributive system was prevalent. My understanding is it was more about freedom from government intervention. The idea of governments redistributive function is more of a twentieth century development. It looks like the first welfare programs started in France in the form of limited government funding for charity hospitals in the early 1900's, about 150 years after Rousseau's death
- dantheman 5y agoYeah, I'm referring to Rousseau.