Single Idea 7237

[catalogued under 24. Political Theory / A. Basis of a State / 1. A People / c. A unified people]

Full Idea

The act by which people become 'a people' is the real foundation of society.

Gist of Idea

The act of becoming 'a people' is the real foundation of society

Source

Jean-Jacques Rousseau (The Social Contract (tr Cress) [1762], I.5)

Book Reference

Rousseau,Jean-Jacques: 'The Social Contract', ed/tr. Cranston,Maurice [Penguin 1972], p.59


A Reaction

The difficulty with many older countries is that it is impossible to identify such an act. Mythologies are created to fictionalise such acts; in Britain we refer back to King Alfred, and to Magna Carta. I suspect 1660 is the key year.