Throughout his fourth walk, Rousseau continually compares truth and justice, and he even goes so far as to link the two. Rousseau discusses the differences between truths that are owed, which is calls general truths, and truths that are not owed, which he calls particular truths. In addition to this, he also discusses the differences between fictions and lies. Rousseau mentions that justice is to give what to each what is owed, and he states that justice and truth are synonymous. For the most part, Rousseau’s claims are logical, but there are some discrepancies in his theories.
Rousseau begins his first walk by stating that he intends to “consecrate my life to the truth.” This declaration occurred after he told a lie that significantly harmed the life of someone completely innocent. When Rousseau was a young man, he resided in the home of a well-to-do lady. Rousseau became quite enamored by her, and he stole one of her ribbons. When she noticed it missing, she asked Rousseau if he knew of its whereabouts. He denied having anything to do with the ribbon, and he blamed one of the …show more content…
According to Rousseau, to lie is to conceal a truth that ought to be made manifest. He states that he came upon this definition while reading Plato’s Republic. He introduces the claim that if a person has no obligation to tell the truth and they say something that is not necessarily true, they are not lying. The question is then posed asking how it could be determined whether a truth is owed. Rousseau presents a template that states that if the truth is general or abstract, it is owed because these truths are the most precious. They are the truths by which humans learn to direct themselves, and they contain the highest principles, such as justice. Rousseau also says that if a truth is a particular or an individual truth, it is not owed because they are not always
Rousseau begins his first walk by stating that he intends to “consecrate my life to the truth.” This declaration occurred after he told a lie that significantly harmed the life of someone completely innocent. When Rousseau was a young man, he resided in the home of a well-to-do lady. Rousseau became quite enamored by her, and he stole one of her ribbons. When she noticed it missing, she asked Rousseau if he knew of its whereabouts. He denied having anything to do with the ribbon, and he blamed one of the …show more content…
According to Rousseau, to lie is to conceal a truth that ought to be made manifest. He states that he came upon this definition while reading Plato’s Republic. He introduces the claim that if a person has no obligation to tell the truth and they say something that is not necessarily true, they are not lying. The question is then posed asking how it could be determined whether a truth is owed. Rousseau presents a template that states that if the truth is general or abstract, it is owed because these truths are the most precious. They are the truths by which humans learn to direct themselves, and they contain the highest principles, such as justice. Rousseau also says that if a truth is a particular or an individual truth, it is not owed because they are not always