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Single Idea 19745

[from 'The Confessions' by Jean-Jacques Rousseau, in 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)

Book Reference

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


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.

Related Idea

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