Rousseau and the Social Contract Tradition - Essay Example

Rousseau and the Social Contract Tradition The writings of Rousseau are known for the spirit using which they pioneered human liberty and for the scale for criticizing the tradition of social contract. Rousseau’s call for the nature’s state that considers man autonomous and free contradicts the tradition of social contract. Social contract tradition renders man self-directed and free only if he adheres to the popular will dictates. Rousseau disapproves of the social contract tradition on the basis that it just promotes equality and liberty whereas it actually does the opposite of that.

Rousseau is of the opinion that the independence of man should not be conditional as implied by the tradition of social contract. In reality, the major theme of Rousseau’s writings is based on this notion since he notes the way man’s own freedom has been compromised by the Civil Society’s formation. Rousseau favors the development of social contract that cannot be permeated by the stakes instead of social contract tradition. According to him, the main goal should be to promote human equality and individual liberty.

Nevertheless, such a social contract can only be realized if the private interests are denounced by the members of society and if they commit to the general will’s cordons. It lies within the general will’s realms that Rousseau associates the legitimacy of political authority only with its alignment with the people’s desires. Moreover, any men who follow the general will’s principles cannot require their fellow men into activities which might betray their conscience. All men are free but they can obtain freedom only by following the laws which implement harmony and order in the society.

In addition, Rousseau asserts that people should make conventions that develop lasting concords between social order and the liberty of people. It can be said that the propositions of Rousseau are sound philosophically. He has made realistic and reasonable suggestions. However, Rousseau has not accurately given examples of general will which leaves men with almost no option, but to advance the tradition of social contract for progress. This is the reason why democracy still sustains even though he might not have chosen democracy for governance.