Contribution of Rousseau

Jean-Jacques Rousseau was the leader of French Revolution. He was born in Geneva, Switzerland, where all adult male citizens could vote for a representative government. This adult franchise was a major influence on his works. In one of his earliest writings, he wrote that man was naturally good and was corrupted by the society. His ideas quickly made him a celebrity in the French salons where artists, scientists, and writers gathered to discuss the latest ideas.
In 1792,he published his most important work on political theory, 'The Social Contract'. His opening line is still striking today: "Man is born free and everywhere he is in chains." It is a paradoxical proclamation. Rousseau asserted that only the people, who was soverign, have that all powerful right. The Social Contract helped inspire political reforms or revolutions in Europe, especially in France.
He wrote that the people would exercise their "general will" to make laws for the "public good". However, Rousseau argued that the general will of the people could not be decided by elected representatives. He believed in a direct democracy in which everyone voted to express the general will and to make the laws of the land.
 According to Rousseau, all political power must reside with the people, exercising their general will. Rousseau's view of the general will was later embodied in the words "We the People" - which are found at the beginning of the US Constitution. On the basis of his ideals and its immense influence on French Revolution, Rousseau's Social Contract, is considered the Bible of the French Revolution.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Aims and objectives of English language teaching

             Introduction " The study of language is the foundation of all other learning. Language defines us as human. To be human is to use language and to talk is to be a person". Language is a medium of communication. English is a powerful vehicle of communication serves as a link language in a multicultural and multilingual society like India and also as a global linguistic mediator. Prof. Jacob Tharu says " English is no longer some remote but a powerful mystery, lying hidden in the world of textbooks in examination ".    Aims of English language teaching     in India In India now English exist as a second language and the aim of teaching English in India is to help students to acquire practical command on English. "Thomson and Wyatt said that Indian students should not only understand English when it is spoken or written but also should be able to speak and write it". Thomson and Wyatt has told the four specific aims of teaching Eng
Read more

Coleridge Fancy and Imagination

          Introduction The Biographia Literaria an autobiography in discourse by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, which he published in 1817. It was one of Coleridge's main critical studies. In this work, he discussed the elements of writing. The work is long and seemingly loosely structured, and although there are autobiographical elements, it is not a straightforward autobiography. Although the work is not written from Coleridge's poetic mind it is still written with the qualities and rhythm of the poetic. Through this discussion, he makes many value judgements, leaving his audience with a clear understand of his stance on certain issues. Some of the issues he tackles include politics, religion, social values and human identity. He expresses his own thoughts from a personal viewpoint.            Imagination Imagination in its real sense denotes the working of poetic minds upon external objects or objects visible to the eyes. Imaginative process sometimes adds additional
Read more

W. B. Yeats as a modern poet

                    Introduction William Yeats is often considered to be the 'last romantic' as opposed to being the founding father of modern poetry. Yet one can not simply place Yeats into just one mould, one rigid and defined style of poetry because as a writer during both periods of Romanticism and Modernism, Yeats straddles the line between the two periods and incorporates 'romantic ideologies' into his modern work. His poems seen as the examples of modern liyerature. In his poems, we found astounding variety, political note, realism, religion, mysticism and so on. And all these matters have made him a true modern poet. By nature he was a dreamer, a thinker,who fell under the spell of the folklore and the superstitions of the Irish peasantry. He is a prominent poet in modern times for his sense of moral wholeness of humanity and history.             Elements of Mysticism Yeats may be credited primary with the owner of contributing the elements of myst
Read more