The Origin of Civil Society” by Jean-Jeaques Rousseau
Rousseau’s life influenced his writings in one way or the other. He majorly argued how he believed things should be. On the Origin of Civil Society, Rousseau argued that people established a civil society by giving up their freedom to themselves and as a group. He focused on the Republic of Geneva, where he was born as the model government because of being denied his citizenship hence preventing him from returning to his native home. According to Rousseau, man is in chains everywhere, contrary to being born free. He is chained to the social order depicted by the authorities who impose rules to be obeyed and followed. Moreover, the social order serves the basis for all the other rights built on conventions and not nature.
Additionally, Rousseau highlights the oldest society as the only natural society and names it the family. This is because the children are tied to their father for their self-preservation, as long as they deem it beneficial. Once the beneficial need is over, the bond is broken. The children then are free from obeying their father, and the father is freed from their responsibility of taking care of the children. Therefore they both result in an equal share of independence. The bond may only remain operative through deliberate choice and not nature. The family remains family though through rules and conventions, hence termed a natural society. This is because shared liberty is part of the natural law and a consequence of man’s nature. Man becomes his own master after attaining the age of reason. However, Rousseau further asserts that, however, strong a man is, he can never remain to be his own master unless through a transformation from obedience to Duty and Might into Right. Consequently, he asserts that since right cannot be produced by might and no man has a natural authority over others, the only legal authority in societies is agreement.
Therefore, Rousseau highlights a seamless transition of the state of nature to a civil state responsible for a significant change in an individual. This is because it replaces justice through instincts and provides a moral basis for his actions. I agree with Rousseau’s notion of an agreeable society. Not only does it enhance peace, but it also provides the individual with liberty and autonomy for a reason.
The Aim of Man” by Aristotle (page 688)
Aristotle attempts to discern the aim of man in this article. He asserts that every activity, purpose, and inquiry are all gears at achieving an aim. He further states happiness as Man’s highest good, hence man is always in pursuit of happiness. For instance, activities such as medicine and war. Aristotle argues that medicine results in health, and war always aim at victory. The above is always done for the sake of the result, which is health and victory, respectively. Significantly happiness is the greatest aim of man as it is not for anything but an individual’s sake. Honor, reason, pleasure, and excellence are being pursued by ma partly for happiness; however, no one chooses happiness for their sake or as a means of achieving them.
Moreover, through the above assertions, Aristotle argues that man does not lead a solitary life but is surrounded by friends and family since he is a social being. Al these provides him with happiness making it the most desirable thing in the world. It is a final result and self-sufficing to everything that a man pursues. Additionally, Aristotle asserts that happiness requires external factors too. The absence of certain things in the life of man can take away his happiness. These things may include personal beauty and the blessing of children. These things tend to add to a man’s happiness. Aristotle further argues that happiness can either be heaven-sent or as a consequence of virtue learning. Its divine nature and virtue oriented makes its attainment the ultimate prize. Therefore, I relate to Aristotle’s argument that happiness is the ultimate aim of man. Every person gains happiness after every achievement and success. Hence it is the ultimate pursuit of a man in all his activities.
Work Cited
https://clarkcollege.instructure.com/courses/1347728/files/71390250 https://studylib.net/doc/8400652/aristotle—the-aim-of-man-