the role of education in rousseau's political thought: the relationship between humanity and citizenship

This paper deliberates on education and political thought in rousseau's magnum opus. this venture demonstrates the harmonic line of argument in rousseau's texts in spite of the variety of subjects he addresses and traces the relationship between the two noted concepts. this paper tries to introduce the logic of how rousseau linked education to the polity –in other words, how he linked humanity to the citizenship responsibilities of humans throughout his intellectual career. examining this question helps clarify the link connecting all of rousseau's works and also offers a more proper understanding of his thoughts. whether rousseau succeeded in this effort is a controversial issue. before rousseau, other thinkers had also examined this relationship, foremost among them was plato. it appears that rousseau had intended for all people to enjoy an education before entering the society. he believed that human beings need to transition from the state of nature to society through the cultivation of values. following in plato's steps, rousseau sought to construe a new political society for the new century and replace it with the corrupted former political society. in seeking to link education and the polity and using the concept of body politic by recourse to his private intuitions, rousseau faced problems that plato had thoughtfully evaded.

the role of education in rousseau's political thought: the relationship between humanity and citizenship

this paper deliberates on education and political thought in rousseau's magnum opus. this venture demonstrates the harmonic line of argument in rousseau's texts in spite of the variety of subjects he addresses and traces the relationship between the two noted concepts. this paper tries to introduce the logic of how rousseau linked education to the polity –in other words, how he linked humanity to the citizenship responsibilities of humans throughout his intellectual career. examining this question helps clarify the link connecting all of rousseau's works and also offers a more proper understanding of his thoughts. whether rousseau succeeded in this effort is a controversial issue. before rousseau, other thinkers had also examined this relationship, foremost among them was plato. it appears that rousseau had intended for all people to enjoy an education before entering the society. he believed that human beings need to transition from the state of nature to society through the cultivation of values. following in plato's steps, rousseau sought to construe a new political society for the new century and replace it with the corrupted former political society. in seeking to link education and the polity and using the concept of body politic by recourse to his private intuitions, rousseau faced problems that plato had thoughtfully evaded.