The return to the soil, to nature, is a recurring preoccupation of the civilized. Whenever a society reaches a state of high development it seems a repeating pattern that a segment of the population begins to yearn for the good ol’ days of yore. Ironically, even the ancients knew this temptation. Recall Cicero’s lament: “O the times! O the morals!” Continue Reading …
Rousseau, Aristotle, and Freud on Political Narcissism
Rousseau was not a cheerful fellow. According to Terry Eagleton, he’d be even less cheerful if he were alive to see what has happened to the public sphere and educational system in Europe: … would no doubt have been appalled by the drastic shrinking of the public sphere. His greatest work, The Social Contract, speaks up for the rights of the Continue Reading …
More on Rousseau: Steven Smith
Here’s a lecture by Steve Smith from Yale University which kicks off with some additional juicy details re. Jean-Jacques’s life (Did you know he abandoned five of his kids to an orphanage? What a bastard!) and mentions a few specific points of influence beyond just hippies (also agrarian communist experimenters!) You can follow the links that appear after this clip Continue Reading …
Episode 23: Rousseau: Human Nature vs. Culture (Citizens Only)
Discussing Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s Discourse in Inequality (1754) and book 1 of The Social Contract (1762). What’s the relationship between culture and nature? Rousseau engages in some wild speculation about the development of humanity from the savage to the modern, miserable wretch.
End song: “Love Is the Problem” by New People from The Easy Thing (2009).
PREVIEW-Episode 23: Rousseau: Human Nature vs. Culture
Discussing Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s Discourse in Inequality (1754) and book 1 of The Social Contract (1762). What’s the relationship between culture and nature? Rousseau engages in some wild speculation about the development of humanity from the savage to the modern, miserable wretch.