Implications of Jean Jacques Rousseau’s ‘Chains’ and its Impediment in Society and Nation Building

Abstract

According to Jean-Jacques Rousseau, the human being was born free but yet everywhere in chains. It is quite evident that Rousseau does not use the word "chain" to mean the physical chain of the individual as in the case of a dog that is chained down to avoid movement. Rather, Rousseau uses the word "chain" to mean the many impediments to human freedom. Most of these impediments are the products of the distorted transition from the state of nature to the civil society. The distortion of the transition of man from the state of nature to civil state introduced injustice in the society and thereby enchained mankind. This chain of injustice not only stifles the natural propensity in the individual to grow but also ensures political instability and absence of development because individuals are now thinking only for themselves and not for the community. Rousseau, not only condemned the negative change the society created in the individual who began to seek for recognition for himself from others, but was equally critical of the excessive exploitation of the natural resources that was also the product of the advancements in the art and sciences. To return to the kind of civil society envisaged by Rousseau, the task of this work attempts to examine the many elements of this enchainment and impediment of the human person in society and arguing for a reversal of the situation through the building of an inclusive society. There is need to do away with the corruption of man, wickedness, inequality, injustice and domination of evil in society. Individuals have to be reeducated to begin to think in terms of the good of the community rather than just for their personal self-interest- the root of pride and selfishness. The General Will must be restored.