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Rousseau maintains that the state forms by means of a mutually-agreed-upon social contract. Once all the members of the state enter into that contract, they have to abide by its rules. So if I enter into the social contract with you, but I decide that I want to eat some tomatoes planted in your garden, to pursue my own self-interest, I might go steal your tomatoes. But it's not in the interest of the commonwealth that anyone steal from anyone else--so I'm pursuing my own interest at the expense of the common good (as well as at the expense of yours). I am forced to obey the rules of the commonwealth, because I agreed to the terms when I signed up. Rousseau's notion of personal liberty is not that everyone be free to do what he or she wants, but that everyone be free in the sense of *secure*.

So, I, the tomato thief, am "forced" to obey the rules of the commonwealth, which includes not stealing from you. In return, I live in the security provided by that commonwealth, which is the ultimate form of freedom, according to Rousseau.

Quoted from Elizabeth

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Rousseau meant that if an individual pursues their self-interests over the common good, they will ultimately face consequences that restrict their freedom. This is because true freedom, according to Rousseau, can only be achieved within a society that prioritizes the collective welfare over individual desires. So, by acting against the common good, the individual is "forced to be free" in order to maintain the stability of the community.

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Q: What did Rousseau mean when he stated that if any individual wants to pursue his own self interests at the expense of the common good He will be forced to be free?
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What did Jean-Jacques Rousseau enlightenment thinkers believe?

Jean-Jacques Rousseau, like other Enlightenment thinkers, believed in the importance of reason, individual liberty, and social progress. He also emphasized the idea of the social contract, where individuals willingly come together to form a society based on common interests and values. Rousseau advocated for a more egalitarian society and criticized the inequalities perpetuated by traditional institutions.


What does the social contract employ according to Rousseau?

According to Rousseau, the social contract employs individuals surrendering some freedom to a collective body in exchange for protection of their remaining rights and interests. This agreement forms the basis of a just society where individuals are bound to the general will for the common good.


Rousseau argued that society should be governed by?

Rousseau argued that society should be governed by the general will, which represents the common interests of the people. He believed that individuals should participate in direct democracy to shape the laws and policies that govern them, creating a society based on collaboration and equality.


Which Enlightment thinker first wrote about the social contract?

The Enlightenment thinker who first wrote about the social contract is Jean-Jacques Rousseau. In his work "The Social Contract," Rousseau discusses the idea that individuals agree to form a society governed by a common will in order to protect their collective interests and freedoms.


What does Rousseau believe about the controls a society puts on its people?

Rousseau believed that society's controls on its people should be minimal, focusing on the common good and the general will. He argued that individuals should be free to act in accordance with the general will to maintain a just and harmonious society. Rousseau emphasized the importance of equality, individual freedom, and the social contract in shaping a fair and just society.

Related questions

What type of group of citizens pursue their own interests at the expense of the common good?

They are called factions.


What did Jean-Jacques Rousseau enlightenment thinkers believe?

Jean-Jacques Rousseau, like other Enlightenment thinkers, believed in the importance of reason, individual liberty, and social progress. He also emphasized the idea of the social contract, where individuals willingly come together to form a society based on common interests and values. Rousseau advocated for a more egalitarian society and criticized the inequalities perpetuated by traditional institutions.


What did Rousseau mean when stated that if any individual wants to pursue his own self interests at the expense of the common good he will be forced to be free?

Rousseau maintains that the state forms by means of a mutually-agreed-upon social contract. Once all the members of the state enter into that contract, they have to abide by its rules. So if I enter into the social contract with you, but I decide that I want to eat some tomatoes planted in your garden, to pursue my own self-interest, I might go steal your tomatoes. But it's not in the interest of the commonwealth that anyone steal from anyone else--so I'm pursuing my own interest at the expense of the common good (as well as at the expense of yours). I am forced to obey the rules of the commonwealth, because I agreed to the terms when I signed up. Rousseau's notion of personal liberty is not that everyone be free to do what he or she wants, but that everyone be free in the sense of *secure*. So, I, the tomato thief, am "forced" to obey the rules of the commonwealth, which includes not stealing from you. In return, I live in the security provided by that commonwealth, which is the ultimate form of freedom, according to Rousseau. Quoted from Elizabeth


What is the pusuit of individual rather than common or collective interests?

individualism, objectivism :) good luck


What does the social contract employ according to Rousseau?

According to Rousseau, the social contract employs individuals surrendering some freedom to a collective body in exchange for protection of their remaining rights and interests. This agreement forms the basis of a just society where individuals are bound to the general will for the common good.


What did Rousseau mean when he stated that if any individual wants to pursue his own self interest at the expense of the common good he will be forced to be free?

Rousseau maintains that the state forms by means of a mutually-agreed-upon social contract. Once all the members of the state enter into that contract, they have to abide by its rules. So if I enter into the social contract with you, but I decide that I want to eat some tomatoes planted in your garden, to pursue my own self-interest, I might go steal your tomatoes. But it's not in the interest of the commonwealth that anyone steal from anyone else--so I'm pursuing my own interest at the expense of the common good (as well as at the expense of yours). I am forced to obey the rules of the commonwealth, because I agreed to the terms when I signed up. Rousseau's notion of personal liberty is not that everyone be free to do what he or she wants, but that everyone be free in the sense of *secure*. So, I, the tomato thief, am "forced" to obey the rules of the commonwealth, which includes not stealing from you. In return, I live in the security provided by that commonwealth, which is the ultimate form of freedom, according to Rousseau. Quoted from Elizabeth


What did Rousseau mean when he stated that if any individual want to pursue his own self interest at the expense of the common good he will be forced to be free?

Rousseau maintains that the state forms by means of a mutually-agreed-upon social contract. Once all the members of the state enter into that contract, they have to abide by its rules. So if I enter into the social contract with you, but I decide that I want to eat some tomatoes planted in your garden, to pursue my own self-interest, I might go steal your tomatoes. But it's not in the interest of the commonwealth that anyone steal from anyone else--so I'm pursuing my own interest at the expense of the common good (as well as at the expense of yours). I am forced to obey the rules of the commonwealth, because I agreed to the terms when I signed up. Rousseau's notion of personal liberty is not that everyone be free to do what he or she wants, but that everyone be free in the sense of *secure*. So, I, the tomato thief, am "forced" to obey the rules of the commonwealth, which includes not stealing from you. In return, I live in the security provided by that commonwealth, which is the ultimate form of freedom, according to Rousseau. Quoted from Elizabeth


Rousseau argued that society should be governed by?

Rousseau argued that society should be governed by the general will, which represents the common interests of the people. He believed that individuals should participate in direct democracy to shape the laws and policies that govern them, creating a society based on collaboration and equality.


Which Enlightment thinker first wrote about the social contract?

The Enlightenment thinker who first wrote about the social contract is Jean-Jacques Rousseau. In his work "The Social Contract," Rousseau discusses the idea that individuals agree to form a society governed by a common will in order to protect their collective interests and freedoms.


What did Rousseau mean when he stated that if any individual wants to pursue his own self-interest at the expense of the common good''he will be forced to be free?

Rousseau maintains that the state forms by means of a mutually-agreed-upon social contract. Once all the members of the state enter into that contract, they have to abide by its rules. So if I enter into the social contract with you, but I decide that I want to eat some tomatoes planted in your garden, to pursue my own self-interest, I might go steal your tomatoes. But it's not in the interest of the commonwealth that anyone steal from anyone else--so I'm pursuing my own interest at the expense of the common good (as well as at the expense of yours). I am forced to obey the rules of the commonwealth, because I agreed to the terms when I signed up. Rousseau's notion of personal liberty is not that everyone be free to do what he or she wants, but that everyone be free in the sense of *secure*. So, I, the tomato thief, am "forced" to obey the rules of the commonwealth, which includes not stealing from you. In return, I live in the security provided by that commonwealth, which is the ultimate form of freedom, according to Rousseau. Quoted from Elizabeth


Which describes the enlarged interests component of the Walk-in-the-Woods Model?

The team develops a list of larger common goals that are woven through each individual's self-interests. apex.


What was Rousseau ideal form of government?

Rousseau theorized, distinct forms of government have to do only with the execution of the sovereign laws. He said "democracy is dangerous in application to particular cases, where the general will of government can easily be lost in the pressure of private interests. The aristocracy is acceptable so long as it executes the general will rather than serving the welfare of the ruling elite. A Monarchy clearly raises the temptation to serve private welfare at the expense of the common good. The appropriate form of government for any state depends upon the character of its people and even its physical climate, Rousseau said, A governments success can be measured easily by the extent to which its population thrives.