Reading Response
The reading is from The Modern History Sourcebook and the passage is entitled, “The Social Contract. It was written by Jean Jacques Rousseau who, in a similar fashion to other political and philosophical minds, stresses the idea of a social contract and, thus, social control as a building block for any society. Some demanded there be a contract between the government and its people, but Rousseau demanded the contract be made between all members living in the society. The contract would essentially replace what are known as natural rights, becoming what we know now as laws.
The reading explains numerous things about history and the development of society therein. Rousseau’s ideas for a social contract extend beyond the government while also encompassing it. Rather than allowing the government to make the contract, binding them to the people as Locke suggested, Rousseau wanted the contract to be made between all people, creating an intractable bond between each individual and society. Conditions of such a contract demanded members of society experience the same rights equally, but only when they all adopt the same social contract. When this happens, no individual will create a significantly worse environment for another person because it will immediately make things worse for themselves. Rather than the government having all the power, the social contract worked through a system of equality. Historically, this has been relatively unfounded.
In a broader historical context, the document could be related to many different periods in time. However, it stands to reason that it is closely related to the Civil Rights Movement, which began most prominently in the 1960’s, and was a push by the African American community for equality. Rousseau’s passage states man is free, but also lives his life in chains. The idea is pertinent to the African American community, as well as many other minority communities living in the United States. The black community specifically was freed from slavery during the Civil War, but had to work decades afterwards in order to achieve minimal success in the world next to Caucasians. It stood to reason, then, Rousseau’s idea of the social contract was not in full effect, and if it was, parts of America were being left out. Were it to include all of America, there would be no reason to pay African American’s less, not accept their job applications, discriminate against them, send them to jail more often, and not let them attend the same school as white children. Under a social contract based on equality, this could only serve to hurt other people in society, but it seems that this has yet to be the case.
In the case of Rousseau’s social contract, while it is more profound that others, there still appears to be no place for it in the world. Equality is an essential part of the contract, as we are making it with each other. Moreover, we must recognize the loss of our natural rights, which many are not prepared to do, or do not ever want to do. Historically, in certain events and throughout overall periods of time, we have seen the social contract only bonds certain people and communities, but it has yet to bond an entire society. One day, we may be enlightened enough to accept it.
