Rousseau's Theory of Freedom

Jean-Jacques Rousseau has a claim to be ranked above even Karl Marx as the political philosopher who has most influenced everyday life. His much-read philosophy of education alone would qualify him for a high place, but his political theory is even more important: decisions affecting millions of people were made based on the reading of certain lines of the Social Contract. Yet while politicians and scholars have studied this book for 250 years, almost no agreement exists on how to interpret its central concept: freedom. Rousseau's theory of freedom has led him to be called everything from the greatest prophet of individual liberty to the designer of the first totalitarian state. This book offers a new, unifying interpretation of the theory of freedom in the Social Contract. Simpson gives a careful analysis of Rousseau's theory of the social pact, and then examines the kinds of freedom that it brings about, showing how Rousseau's individualist and collectivist aspects fit into a larger and logically coherent theory of human liberty.Simpson's book not only helps us to understand one of the pre-eminent political minds of the 18th century, but also brings us into closer conversation with those he influenced, who have done so much to shape our world. And in light of the interest in contemporary contractualist philosophers like Rawls, Scanlon, and Gauthier, readers will find it worthwhile to return to the thinker who offers one of the most radical, profound, and insightful theories of the social contract ever devised.

"'In the immense literature on Rousseau, remarkably little has been devoted directly to the concept of freedom which is arguably the central issue in his political thought. Matthew Simpson is attempting a coherent interpretation of freedom in Rousseau that avoids the anachronistic divide between totalitarian and liberal readings and provides the basis for how to see Rousseau's idea of the contract and, hence, for relating him to central concerns in contemporary political theory.' Knud Haakonssen, Boston University 'Simpson pays unusually close attention to the precision of Rousseau's language and the logic of his argument. I regard his study as one of the two or three best treatments of the Social Contract in any language. In addition to providing a clear and deep account of Rousseau's thought, Simpson considers its relevance to contemporary liberal theory. He does so without distorting either Rousseau's thought or that of the contemporary thinkers he discusses. He succeeds in showing that Rousseau is not merely a precursor, but is also a valuable interlocutor in modern debates.' Christopher Kelly, Boston College"

Matthew Simpson teaches philosophy at Luther College, Decorah, IA. Among his previous publications is 'Political Liberty in the Social Contract' in A Decade of Transformations, eds Gerin & Jedlickova.