Rousseau's Theory Of Humanity

Rousseau's works,discussing various issues in many aspects,have great influences in the history.Consequently there turn out to be many different points of view from which research can be conducted.Having analyzed a serious of Rousseau's main works,this thesis attempts to discuss the whole and the coherence within his thought.There is an inner transition from nature to freedom in his theory of humanity.This transition is a clue to understand Rousseau's theory of humanity.Cultivation of humanity is to cultivate free men.The free men are the citizens with a spirit of contract.This important thought has a foundational meaning in Rousseau's political thought.The politic is the terminal part of his thought.He aims at establishment of the free community by which the general will will protect individuals' freedom.However,this aim does not grow out of social contract.Rousseau thought society was an unfree state for human beings.Whether a free man can be cultivated in the state of society,the key point lies in the height that the cultivation of humanity can have.In New Heloisa the height that humanity can arrive is established,on which the cultivation of free men is based.The humanity is determinated by individuals who firstly discipline themselves in oder to have a freedom in themselves,and then make themselves a good person according to their good will,all of which comes from the love of the nature of human beings.Therefore the cultivation of free men in Emile has a determination and foundation,and thus becomes a necessary career in a new era.Free activities of free men can build a free community.As a result the ideal political construction is based on the cultivation.From this aspect,the state of nature and the man in the state of nature,which discussed in the First Discourse,is not a delusion of dream but a starting point of the thought.Learning from his negative experience of history,Rousseau criticizes the inequality and unfree status of society.In order to overcome this reality,he further announces that the nature of human beings is good by means of a poetic imagination.It is exactly this poetic imagination that gives rise to the cultivation of humanity.The beginning of his thought is not in the already world,but in the creation of language,a construction from nothingness and imagination.The value of Rousseau's thought lies in it:the differentiating from the before world can open up a new community.How dose the imagination become the reality,which becomes the inner tension of Rousseau's thought.Although the tension causes suffering,free men can get it over and finally have a freedom in themselves by their action,becoming citizens.Thus to understand Rousseau's thought,one shall grasp the inner relation and transition in his works,and not refer only to part of his works or focus merely on his political thought according to the social influence.Instead the alternative way to study Rousseau's thought would be looking for the relation and transition of his works as a whole.The power of his thought is to be a self by acting in self,and then we should understand the example of personality which he creates in this way as well,that is we should love these beautiful hearts,sympathize their suffering and adore their endeavor.This affection resides in the nature of human beings.The power of the natural affection is that we can sense and follow it.Therefore,starting from nature does not mean going back to the primary state.It instead means a new liberty of society,and the central part of this course lies in the career of cultivation of humanity.