Abstract

Rousseau's thought is a pivotal point in the history of the concept of alienation. In his writings one finds the bridge between psycho-social interpretation that is now dominant and the legal-political interpretation that prevailed prior to his writings. Rousseau's transformation of the concept is prepared in the works of Grotius, Hobbes and Locke, in whose writing alienation refers to the transfer of one's proprietary or political powers. These thinkers deemed certain rights to be inalienable because they were essential characteristics of one's being as a moral agent and, therefore, could not be renounced. If the way that a theorist conceives of alienation is dependent upon what is considered to be fundamental to the human being, then a transformation in the conception of alienation must be predicated on a transformation in the conception of what makes one human. In his writings, Rousseau traces the development of man from a natural, pre-self-conscious being to a corrupted and alienated one. He contends that it is the social environment, which demands that man life a false and shallow life, that is responsible for man's undoing. For Rousseau, those elements from which one cannot reasonably and healthily be separated extend well beyond life and liberty. One must also preserve one's spirit---one's self. ;By broadening the understanding of what makes one human and the social and historical forces that influence human development, Rousseau writings allow for the introduction of the psycho-social conception of alienation. Furthermore, Rousseau's writings lay much of the groundwork for the Marx's later, more explicit discussions of alienation. Although little of the literature on alienation recognizes the influential role played by Rousseau's writings, through careful analysis it is shown here that the themes of self-alienation and alienation from others, most often credited to the writings of Marx, are clearly laid out by Rousseau