blog.kennypearce.net: Jean-Jacques Rousseau Archives

February 22, 2009

Quote of the Day: Why Write Political Theory?

I may be asked whether I am a prince or a legislator that I should be writing about politics. I answer no: and indeed that that is my reason for doing so. If I were a prince or a legislator I should not waste my time saying what ought to be done; I should do it and keep silent.

- Jean-Jacques Rousseau, The Social Contract, tr. Maurice Cranston, Introduction to Book I

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Topic(s): Historical Thinkers , Jean-Jacques Rousseau , Philosophy , Political Philosophy , Quote of the Day
Posted by Kenny at 4:31 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

January 20, 2009

Topics of Thought for This Quarter

Although I only very rarely post life updates to this blog, it is my custom here to list the subjects I am studying each term because it generally has some bearing on what interesting philosophy I will be blogging about. This quarter I am taking courses on the following topics: Early Modern Social Contract Theory. Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau. I am already considering a paper topic: grievances against the state. (A timely subject.) Hobbes seems to say that you can't sue a sovereign (whether sovereignty is held by an individual or a group) unless he/she/they intentionally set up a process...
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Topic(s): Ethics , Historical Thinkers , Immanuel Kant , Jean-Jacques Rousseau , John Locke , My Life , Philosophy , Political Philosophy , Thomas Hobbes
Posted by Kenny at 5:41 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)