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Single Idea 19745

[catalogued under 24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 9. Communism]

Full Idea

Everything is rooted in politics, and whatever might be attempted, no people would ever be other than the nature of their government made them.

Gist of Idea

The nature of people is decided by the government and politics of their society

Source

Jean-Jacques Rousseau (The Confessions [1770], 9-1756)

A Reaction

A striking anticipation of one of Marx's most important ideas - that society is not created by individual minds, because the nature of consciousness is created by society. The central idea in the subject of sociology, I think.

Book Reference

Rousseau,Jean-Jacques: 'The Confessions', ed/tr. Cohen,J.M. [Penguin 1953], p.377

Related Idea

Idea 5281 Consciousness is a social product [Marx/Engels]