I investigate Rousseau's formulation of how the people and their government act as sources of civic education and censorship. I define censorship broadly to include all institutionally or publicly enforced moral or policy views. Using Rousseau's Letter to M. d'Alembert as a starting point, I examine the way in which public morals and opinions structure political discourse, determining the influence of laws and the limits of institutions. I argue that while law can force the people to tacitly conform by threat of punishment, it cannot compel the people's will. Unlike classic liberal approaches that separate morality and law, Rousseau emphasizes a reciprocal influence between them, and contends that their relegation to separate spheres enervates the laws and further distances the people from legislation. Public opinion and its product, morals, resist attempts at government censorship, but themselves demand compliance. As a result, Rousseau argues, social and political freedom necessitate a certain uniformity of public opinion and law. That uniformity, however, requires a civic education reinforced by both an institutional and public form of censorship. In addition to a more general civic education, reason and conscience, two key intellectual and psychological traits, require cultivation and proper direction, resulting in the individual's identification with and concern for their fellow citizens' well-being. Overall, my work explores the extent of Rousseau's formulation and the limits of its application to ancient, modern, and contemporary politics.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:unt.edu/info:ark/67531/metadc1707238 |
| Date | 08 1900 |
| Creators | Montagano, Elliot Thomas |
| Contributors | Forde, Steven, Ruderman, Richard, Oldmixon, Elizabeth, Yaffe, Martin |
| Publisher | University of North Texas |
| Source Sets | University of North Texas |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis or Dissertation |
| Format | v, 351 pages, Text |
| Rights | Public, Montagano, Elliot Thomas, Copyright, Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise noted. All rights Reserved. |
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