Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Introduction
- Chapter 1 The general will in theory
- Chapter 2 The “origin” of the private will
- Chapter 3 Solidarity
- Chapter 4 Democracy in the Age of States
- Chapter 5 The last state
- Chapter 6 The liberal state and/versus the last state
- Chapter 7 Rousseauean Marxism and/versus liberalism
- Chapter 8 Communism
- Chapter 9 After Communism, communism?
- Index of names
Chapter 3 - Solidarity
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 December 2009
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Introduction
- Chapter 1 The general will in theory
- Chapter 2 The “origin” of the private will
- Chapter 3 Solidarity
- Chapter 4 Democracy in the Age of States
- Chapter 5 The last state
- Chapter 6 The liberal state and/versus the last state
- Chapter 7 Rousseauean Marxism and/versus liberalism
- Chapter 8 Communism
- Chapter 9 After Communism, communism?
- Index of names
Summary
To gain a better purchase on what general will coordination is, it will be helpful to contrast it with a form of social interaction it appears to resemble: acting in solidarity. In our political culture, “solidarity” is often used imprecisely and in a variety of vaguely related senses. However, what follows focuses on only a very few legitimate uses of the term. An investigation of solidarity is useful especially for the insight it provides into the central political problem Rousseauean political philosophy confronts: the problem of transforming a world where private interests hold exclusive sway into a social order in which “the exercise of the general will” plays an important role.
A POINT OF DEPARTURE
It is seldom enlightening to investigate political phenomena by reflecting on obscure and oracular dicta. But, in this case, there is a venerable and celebrated saying that, though virtually featureless, suggests what is essential. According to the portion of the Mishnah called the Pirke Aboth, “The Sayings of the Fathers,” Rabbi Hillel is supposed to have said: “If I am not for myself, then who will be for me? And when I am for myself only, what am I?” These often quoted words are sufficiently vague to support a variety of plausible interpretations. They might be held, for instance, to assert the moral importance of self-respect.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- The General WillRousseau, Marx, Communism, pp. 60 - 74Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 1993