1. Second Discourse PHIL 2027 2008-09

2. Second amendment to the U.S. Constitution ‘A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to bear arms shall not be infringed’. Does this mean that each citizen must have access to firearms for his/her personal use? Are there any states with citizen militias? Geneva and the ‘Escalade’ How do they handle citizens’ access to firearms? Is this provision inherent to democracy— direct or indirect (i.e. ‘representative’)?

3. Rousseau’s idea of freedom (6) Like ‘solid or hearty foods’; ‘which overwhelm, ruin, intoxicate weak and delicate’ temperaments; Even the Romans were not ready for freedom after being ruled by Tarquins—they had to ‘breathe the salutary air of freedom’ and be ‘handled with care’; ‘Once people are accustomed to masters, they cannot do without them’. Examples? Is Rousseau suggesting that some kind of education/preparation necessary for a people to govern itself democratically? Is democracy itself that education? Or are there are other schools for democracy?

4. Freedom Sir Isaiah Berlin: 2 freedoms: negative: individual liberty to do as one wishes so long as one does not harm others Positive: self-determining freedom of a community, e.g. ancient polis, city-state Is Rousseau talking about personal (i.e. ‘negative’) freedom? Positive freedom? Or both?

5. Rousseau’s idea of democracy Based on ancient models: Roman republic—Rousseau objects to their way of conducting plebiscites (8) Athens—fair degree of direct democracy, also term limits, required participation Sparta—gerontocracy There were very few contemporary ones: Great Britain—Rousseau denigrates this system in SC Holland Geneva—oligarchic, perhaps an ‘aristocratic republic’

6. Rousseau’s Confucian republicanism (ED, 11) Role of people is limited They approve laws by direct vote, in an assembly—’a Body’ this is not modern, representative democracy Laws are proposed by magistrates Who are the magistrates? Officials of the republic, not members of a legislature Most capable and upright members of society Elected for just one year at a time (term limit) Their virtue bears witness to the wisdom of the people

7. Rousseau’s idea of Geneva ‘profound wisdom…happily combined in this State’ Approximating natural law Freedom preserved by arms Wise constitution, dictated by ‘sublime reason’ Treaties fix boundaries; no enemies Laws are supreme (not people), people’s obedience to Ministers Neither too rich nor too poor

8. Geneva in fact Councils of 25 and 200, composed of members of a few major families (council meetings = family reunions); General Council of citizens (to whom the Essay is dedicated) lost its legislative role, merely approved list of syndics; Small number of citizens: 1500 out of 18,500 inhabitants

9. Rousseau’s relationship to Geneva: Departed in 1728 after being locked out of the city one Sunday evening: symbolically threw away his watch (symbol of conformity and modernity); Declared himself ‘citizen of Geneva’ on the title page of the first Discourse (1750), a direct political statement in absolutist France in France there were, as Rousseau often remarked, no citizens, only subjects of the King. Returned to Geneva in 1754 after the publication of the second Discourse: renounced his Catholicism (adopted in 1720’s) in order to be restored to full citizen rights; Later abandoned the idea of settling there.

10. Economic inequality, Geneva growth of banking, 18 th c. segregation of upper classes in one section of the city and their adoption of lifestyle of wealthy European elites; gradual abandonment of sumptuary laws that regulated what different classes of people could wear (differential application by class—par. 20, ED); artisans’ complaints about merchant-bankers causing capital flight, failing to invest in local industry and aligning themselves w/ outside financial and economic interests.

11. Questions Can Rousseau’s claims be critically be analyzed? Why read him while falling in love with him and his fantasies and reveries? Can we check his claimsd? Are they feasible or rational?