Rousseau And Totalitarianism Essay Research Paper Rousseau

Rousseau And Totalitarianism Essay, Research Paper

Rousseau and Totalitarianism

Rousseau clearly promotes totalitarianism in The Social Contract, and hints at it in a few passages from his Second Discourse. He desperately attempts to lay down a form of government that eliminates any chance for the people to be victims. Rousseau specifically shows us the faults in the other types of government and tries to prevent them in his ideas. He wants to create a political situation where people have as much sovereignty as possible.

In order to reduce the chance of victimhood among the peoples there must be equality between them all. Rousseau discusses ‘the right of the first occupant’ in The Social Contract. He writes, “…the claimant occupies no more than he needs for subsistence…he takes possession…by actually working and cultivating the soil – the only sign of ownership…”(Social, p.66) Each man receives what he needs from the common good and no more. Rousseau obviously wants people to be as equal as possible, and believes that once you enter the civil society you only have the right to what is yours and no more.

In a democracy this would not exist at all. There is no equality between everybody’s property, meaning anyone can have more than he needs. In a democratic society people are encouraged to take as much as one can. The more someone has the more they have used democracy in its purest form. People have the freedom to be greedy and take whatever they can under a democratic society. Rousseau wants a society where everyone only gets what they need, no more no less, almost holding back those individuals in a position to acquire more.

Rousseau’s society has a very controlling government with a lot of power that could be damaging if given to the wrong people. When he writes “the social pact gives the body politic absolute power over all its members”(Social, p.70) he emulates a government set up in a socialistic or even in a communistic manner. To give absolute power to its government is the exact opposite of a democratic society. In a democratic government the political body has limited power. In America this is seen in the separation of powers into three bodies each sharing power with the others.

Book I Chapter 7, titled “The Sovereign” encourages a more controlling government and society. In the last paragraph (Social, p.64) he shows the reader a necessity for force among those who disagree with the general will. Rousseau thinks that anyone who refuses to obey the general will should be forced to be free. Freedom exists only by living under the general will. He is claiming that the general will is always correct and should not tolerate anyone who disagrees. This is the perfect way to ensure a totalitarianistic society.

Rousseau argues the need for force further in Book IV. He claims that there should be the social pact that requires voluntary and unanimous agreement between all. (Social, p.152) As long as everyone inhibits the state’s territory, they are consenting to the sovereign. If anyone in particular disagrees with the general will, they must be “forced to conform to the wills which are not his own.” (Social, p.153) Rousseau wants the opinion of the majority to force all others to understand and believe with them. Anyone unwilling to conform to the general will is never free.

Just the word ‘conform’ gives direction to where Rousseau is headed with his thoughts. When anyone is forced to conform, all individuality is lost. Without the right to be an individual democracy does not exist. Justice does not allow forced conformity. This would be as if the United States government forced all homosexuals into heterosexual relationships and if they protested they would be punished. This could never happen in the United States as long as justice and democracy are practiced.

He believes that the general will alone can direct the state to achieve the common good. The conflict between private interests made civil societies a necessity, but it is the harmony between them that has made it possible to have civil societies. The commonality of those interests allows for a social bond. Without a social bond the society could never exist. (Social, p.69) This point of view is very Marxian and stresses the importance of everyone being equal and the same.

He goes on to write, “the general will studies only the common interest while the will of all studies private interest.”(Social, p.72) Anyone outside of the common interest is alienated and not included. Rousseau believes that individuals need the general will to keep equality present and to have a peaceful society. Human nature wants more so the general will holds them back. In a democracy this is not the case. Even those outside the common interest have rights, and are protected and included by the government. With the will of all having a part in the government, there is democracy. Rousseau wants to leave out the will of all to avoid more conflict.

In Rousseau’s society the sovereign can demand services from the citizens whenever necessary. This commitment of everybody to render services to the state is legally constraining. The general will must be general in purpose and nature in order to provide equal rights and justice. The general will must come from all and apply to all, it must not be directed towards any particular object or being. Each man must thin