During the eighteenth century Europe went through a period of Enlightenment. At this time a French philosopher named Jean-Jacques Rousseau developed the Social Contract theory also known as contractarianism. Contractarianism is the theory that a contract binds the government with all members of society. Jean Jacques Rousseau’s theory of contractarianism was a major influence on the French Revolution.
The Social Contract was Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s way to explain his views on how a political community should be settled. In the contract Rousseau writes “man is born free, but he is everywhere in chains” (Social Contract). By writing this Rousseau shows his view that the government takes away citizen’s rights and restricts them. Furthermore Rousseau believed …show more content…
Firstly, Rousseau’s idea of a common good was a familiar phrase of those in the French Revolution. This was a common saying because many important figures of the French Revolution, like Maximilien Robespierre, believed Rousseau had a brilliant philosophy on how a government should run. Secondly, Rousseau’s writings in the Social Contract reflected that he encouraged revolutions. He wrote “when revolutions do to peoples what certain crises do to individuals, when the horror of the past takes the place of forgetting, and when the State aflame with civil wars is so to speak reborn from its ashes and recovers the vigor of youth as it escapes death's embrace” (Social Contract). By writing this Rousseau was able to plant a seed for a revolution whether he knew it or not. Through the Social Contract, Rousseau was able to show his views that a revolution was sometimes needed in order to begin again. This powerful sentiment was revealed to the leaders of the French Revolution and became one of their principles. As a result of Rousseau’s views, future figures of the French Revolution were able to have a base for their ideas and
The Social Contract was Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s way to explain his views on how a political community should be settled. In the contract Rousseau writes “man is born free, but he is everywhere in chains” (Social Contract). By writing this Rousseau shows his view that the government takes away citizen’s rights and restricts them. Furthermore Rousseau believed …show more content…
Firstly, Rousseau’s idea of a common good was a familiar phrase of those in the French Revolution. This was a common saying because many important figures of the French Revolution, like Maximilien Robespierre, believed Rousseau had a brilliant philosophy on how a government should run. Secondly, Rousseau’s writings in the Social Contract reflected that he encouraged revolutions. He wrote “when revolutions do to peoples what certain crises do to individuals, when the horror of the past takes the place of forgetting, and when the State aflame with civil wars is so to speak reborn from its ashes and recovers the vigor of youth as it escapes death's embrace” (Social Contract). By writing this Rousseau was able to plant a seed for a revolution whether he knew it or not. Through the Social Contract, Rousseau was able to show his views that a revolution was sometimes needed in order to begin again. This powerful sentiment was revealed to the leaders of the French Revolution and became one of their principles. As a result of Rousseau’s views, future figures of the French Revolution were able to have a base for their ideas and