Rousseau's Theodicy of Self-Love: Evil, Rationality, and the Drive for RecognitionThis book is the first comprehensive study of Rousseau's rich and complex theory of the type of self-love (amour propre ) that, for him, marks the central difference between humans and the beasts. Amour propre is the passion that drives human individuals to seek the esteem, approval, admiration, or love—the recognition —of their fellow beings. Neuhouser reconstructs Rousseau's understanding of what the drive for recognition is, why it is so problematic, and how its presence opens up far-reaching developmental possibilities for creatures that possess it. One of Rousseau's central theses is that amour propre in its corrupted, manifestations—pride or vanity—is the principal source of an array of evils so widespread that they can easily appear to be necessary features of the human condition: enslavement, conflict, vice, misery, and self-estrangement. Yet Rousseau also argues that solving these problems depends not on suppressing or overcoming the drive for recognition but on cultivating it so that it contributes positively to the achievement of freedom, peace, virtue, happiness, and unalienated selfhood. Indeed, Rousseau goes so far as to claim that, despite its many dangers, the need for recognition is a condition of nearly everything that makes human life valuable and that elevates it above mere animal existence: rationality, morality, freedom—subjectivity itself—would be impossible for humans if it were not for amour propre and the relations to others it impels us to establish. |
Contents
1 | |
I Human Nature and its Passions | 27 |
II Diagnosis | 55 |
III Prescription | 153 |
IV Elevating Humankind by Curing the Malady from Within | 185 |
Conclusion | 265 |
271 | |
275 | |
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Rousseau's Theodicy of Self-Love: Evil, Rationality, and the Drive for ... Frederick Neuhouser No preview available - 2008 |
Common terms and phrases
according achieve Allan Bloom amour amour de soi ancient Rome basic Cambridge Chapter character citizen concern dangers dependence desire for superior distinction distinguish domination E IV Emile Emile’s Emile's education equal evils excellences explain eyes feature of amour-propre freedom fundamental interests Hegel honor human existence human nature idea ideal implies important individuals inequality infant inflamed amour-propre interpretation Jean-Jacques Rousseau judgments Kantian kind merely object one's oneself opinion particular passage passion person philosophical pity political possible precisely principle problem propre psychological rational agency rational motivation recognized regard relation relative requires role romantic love Rousseau Rousseau's account Rousseau's claim Rousseau's position Rousseau's view satisfy Second Discourse seek self-conception self-love sense sentiment Social Contract society specific standpoint of reason subjects suggests superior standing theodicean theodicy true glory University Press virtue words worth