Rousseau and Revolution: : Bloomsbury Research in Political Philosophy Holger Ross Lauritsen Bloomsbury Academic

Rousseau and Revolution

Description

The political philosophy of the 18th century philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau has long been associated with the dramatic events of the French Revolution. In this book, an international team of scholars has been brought together to examine the connection between Rousseau's thought and the revolutionary traditions of modern Europe.

The book explores Rousseau's own conceptions of violence and revolution in contrast to those of other thinkers such as Hegel and Fanon and in connection with his ideas on democracy. Historical analyses also consider Rousseau's thinking in light of the French Revolution in particular and the European revolutions that have followed it. Across the eleven chapters the book also touches on such issues as citizenship, activism, terrorism and the State. In doing so, the book reveals Rousseau to be an important source of insight into contemporary political problems.

Introduction \ Part I: Democracy and Violence \ 1. Why Rousseau Mistrusts Revolutions: Rousseau's Paradoxical Conservatism Blaise Bachofen \ 2. The General Will and National Conscioussness: Radical Requirements of Democratic Legitimacy in the Writing of Rousseau and Fanon Jane Anna Gordon \ 3. Rousseau and the Terror: A Reassessment Julian Bourg \ 4. Arbitrariness and Freedom: Hegel on Rousseau and Revolution Angelica Nuzzo \ Part II: Philosophy and Political Change \ 5. Reverse Revolution: The Paradox of Rousseau's Authorship Fayçal Falaky \ 6. The General Will Between Conservation and Revolution Holger Ross Lauritsen \ 7. Rousseau and Revolution in the Making of a Modern Political Culture: Denmark 1750-1850 Holger Ross Lauritsen \ Part III: Revolution and History \ 8. Creation, Destruction and Continuity of Order Christiane Mossin \ 9. Rousseau and the Revolutions of the Earth: Remarks on a Natural Metaphor Antoine Hatzenberger \ 10. The Revolutionary Return of the Orator: Public Space and the Spoken Word in the Work of Jean-Jacques Rousseau Masano Yamashita \ 11. Rousseau, the Revolution and the Republic Masano Yamashita \ Index.

Product details

Published	28 Mar 2013
Format	Paperback
Edition	1st
Extent	224
ISBN	9781472510440
Imprint	Bloomsbury Academic
Dimensions	Not specified
Series	Bloomsbury Research in Political Philosophy
Publisher	Bloomsbury Publishing

Anthology Editor

Holger Ross Lauritsen

Holger Ross Lauritsen is a PhD Fellow at the Insti…

Anthology Editor

Mikkel Thorup

Mikkel Thorup is Associate Professor at the Instit…

In an age where revolutions are sweeping the Middle East, it seems as good a time as any to reconsider the principles on which revolutions are grounded. This reason alone is sufficient to reconsider Jean-Jacques Rousseau's relationship to the French Revolution and political change. But these essays also invite students of Rousseau to consider his works more generally. While this volume does not answer once and for all the timeless questions raised by his political thought, one at least takes a few steps toward a more sophisticated political philosophy through engaging its essays.

Notre Dame Philosophical Review, David Lay Williams, DePaul University