French Politics and Culture in the Jean-Jacques Rousseaus View - Book Report/Review Example

French Politics and Culture Table of Contents Table of Contents 2 Introduction 3 Depiction of Self 3 Society and Self 4 Self and the Society 5 Self-outside the Society 6 Conclusion 7 References 9 Introduction In the book ‘Solitary Walker’, the author named Jean-Jacques Rousseau has effectively developed the philosophical argument through the lyrical descriptive processes. Through the work, the author elaborates on the different modes of leading a life as well as having a better understanding of leading a simple life. In the reveries, the author details about the effect of societal life on the innate qualities that human possess (Lane & Clark, 2006). The philosopher even projects on the natural independence of the misery and degradation of the human evolution that is revealed by the changing nature of the society. The different perspective based on the consequent suffering that human beings face to meet with the changes of the civilised societies. Furthermore, the author depicts his views about the self-sovereignty that governs the independence and political sovereignty of individuals (Stefanson, 2004). With these concerns, the essay elaborates on the different perspective portrayed by the author to develop a better understanding of the self over the societal settings and paradoxes. Depiction of Self Rousseau describes the different perspectives of the society in order to develop self-image and even foster moral corruption. Through the reveries, the author elaborates on the relationship between self and other settings of the nature and the society. The changing societal settings as well as the political scenarios create a huge impact on the social lifestyle of human. By providing an immense justification and self-realisation, the author portrays through reveries about the different confession and provides an immense view on self-realisation and justification. Lack of proper alignment of the self with the external world leads to a huge amount of discontent and creates confusion among self and social world. Through his walks, the author focuses on the different phases of his life that he has faced and his realisation about self in contrast to the different societal settings (Rousseau, 2011). Through the elaborated walks of his life, the author portrayed details of the different phases that he has been through and the phases depicted the socialisation of his self. In his reveries, the author acclaims that his life of solitude could be easily burdened by the different social settings that hampers the life of individuals. The different self-realisation that the author has been facing over the years has reflected on his natural interdependencies that were burdened by the social discourses. The different walks that the author have incorporated into the reveries reflect on miseries and discontentment that he has faced at the various stages of his life. The author has even portrayed his rejections and self-portrayals as a part of the social life that has made him accept solitude (Rousseau, 2011). Society and Self Rousseau’s description of self reflects on the different inclusion of social life that has an impact of staying with the civilisation. Furthermore, the civilisations have a huge effect on the social life and played prominent role in developing the human lifestyle at large. Moreover, the social norms are identified to be based on political regulations followed in a nation. In this regard, a society is developed on the basis of factors that include culture and politics. The author has even depicted the social contradictions in an efficient manner, so that this would develop the situations of self-sufficiency and fallibility. The development of the paradoxes that has been affecting the lifestyle of people is elaborated in the different walks of life. The author in the walks has been identified that the nature is free from different bounds that are implicated in the life of human, which have led to solitude. At times, the author has even reflected on his social seclusion followed by rejections from his fellow workers (Rousseau, 2011). In the fifth walk, the author depicts his contentment that he has attained with the development of solitude and gained over the years. The different lifestyles that are prevalent within the societal settings influence the personal development and justify the settlement of self. With the development of different anecdote and confessions of experiences of an individual faced within a society are quite complex. There has been rigorous relationship between the individuals as well as the nature (Rousseau, 2011). Every individual has a separate way of looking into their life and develop their credibility to make it better. This development in the society is even likely to enhance the individual’s ability to develop a better lifestyle for staying within the society (Lane & Clark, 2006). Self and the Society The development of self has been one of the major requirements for every individual and even has been influencing the societal approaches of the individual at large. Certain individuals plan to develop their self-sufficiency based on the social norms whereas others plan to seclude themselves from the social dilemmas. In addition, certain people enhance their level of credibility and manage adverse situations staying within the society. It is even noted that owing to the huge amount of complications that are present within the society, there are several amount of self-hindering acquaintances. This creates a mental disturbance on the individuals and affects their social lifestyles (Rousseau, 2011). In the reveries, the author talks of the people who have worked “from cradle to grave” just to develop their self-reliance and dependencies. This even depicts that there are certain masses of people who work all day to develop their self-identifications, but hardly have the time for self-development that they must attain at different societal settings. This hindrance has led to a state of isolation for the author where he finds it easier to communicate with his self and develop a better understanding of the society. This is even going to improve views towards life and develop the quality of life (Keily, n.d.). This isolation has enhanced the level of self-realisation among the author and even developed the quality of self-actualisation. The author comments that he is one of the most fortunate individual among all the man, as he could identify his need of self over the social considerations. This would even make the different propositions quite absurd and develop delirium of just souls. Furthermore, the author could even identify his needs and could find the tranquillity of his life within the solace of solidarity (Rousseau, 2011). Self-outside the Society The author in his reveries talks about the realisation of the self and develops the understanding of different views towards the life. With the development of self, there has been a huge amount of dilemmas to relate the personal requirements to the civilised and social developments. This is even likely to affect the requirements of the individuals at the different junctures of life. With the development of self, there have been huge amounts of dilemmas that are prevalent within the society (Rousseau, 2011). This is even going to affect the development of a person over the requirements of a society for the development of the societal aspects. Furthermore, the author even elaborates on fate that has often created a huge amount stress on the development of self. It is also recognised that development of self is prominent over the social settings of the society. In this context, individuals are identified to have deviate views from the social settings and decide to walk unlike the norms of the society (Keily, n.d.). The author even comments on the different level of negligence that an individual is likely to face within different social settings. Correspondingly, acceptance and negligence that individuals face during their course of life creates a hindrance or a dilemma to seclude themselves from the social enclosures. Commenting on the different social implication on an individual life, people are identified to compromise their melancholic recollections. The author even reflects on his melancholic acquaintances leading to the development of a separate space where he could cherish his moments with the developed self (Lane & Clark, 2006). The diabolic infatuations that he faced at several situations have inflicted sentiments of violence and infatuations. With the reflections about his personal realisations, the author has successfully elaborated on the needs of self. This has contradicted the normal rules and regulations of the society and has in turn affected the overall lifestyle of the individuals. This is further observed to be affecting the flow of normal life and has led to solitude and partial seclusion from the society (Stefanson, 2004). Conclusion Self as depicted by the author cannot completely live outside the society. The author often talks about his self-realisation of seclusion that was far better than being a part of the group. It is even noted that the development of self is even going to affect the development of social being. The author even comments on the normal rules and regulations of the society and develop their understanding of the societal culture. Several instances are evidence that there can be no such development of self, which can be segregated from the society. The author even commented on the people and their operations that have been affecting the lifestyle of the less fortunate to develop their social recognition. The author on his realisation of self from solitude that he has undergone after his fellow learners rejected him made him admire his self and social life in the different walks of life. This development of self reflected on partial seclusion. Hence, it can be concluded that the development of self outside the society is unapparent to a greater extent. Being a part of the society is one of the foremost principles that has developed civilisations over the years and further enhanced the ability of the individuals to develop their self-efficacy. References Keily, C., No Date. The Reveries of Thl~Solitary Wali(Er) Botanical Writings~I and Letter to Franquieres. The Collected Writings of Rousseau, Vol. 8, Iss. 1, pp. 70-77. Lane, J. H. & Clark, R. R., 2006. The Solitary Walker in the Political World: The Paradoxes of Rousseau and Deep Ecology. Political Theory, Vol. 34, No. 1, pp. 62-94. Rousseau, J., 2011. Reveries of the Solitary Walker. Oxford University Press. Stefanson, D., 2004. Rousseau’s Reveries: the Juvenile Independence of the Solitary Walker. Australasian Political Studies Association Conference, pp. 1-23. Read More