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!” But even the Greeks reached a 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 citizenry in the teeth of private 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 ends to see 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? Are savages really slavering beasts of unquenchable appetites, or probably more mellow, hangin' about, flexin' their muscles, just chillin', eh? Rousseau engages in some wild speculation about the development of Continue Reading …
PREVIEW-Episode 23: Rousseau: Human Nature vs. Culture
This is a 31-minute preview of a 1 hr, 29-minute episode. Buy Now Purchase this episode for $2.99. Or become a PEL Citizen for $5 a month, and get access to this and all other paywalled episodes, including 68 back catalogue episodes; exclusive Part 2's for episodes published after September, 2020; and our after-show Nightcap, where the guys respond to listener email and chat Continue Reading …