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Single Idea 7235

[from 'The Social Contract (tr Cress)' by Jean-Jacques Rousseau, in 22. Metaethics / A. Ethics Foundations / 1. Nature of Ethics / g. Moral responsibility ]

Full Idea

If you take away all freedom of the will, you strip a man's actions of all moral significance.

Gist of Idea

Without freedom of will actions lack moral significance

Source

Jean-Jacques Rousseau (The Social Contract (tr Cress) [1762], I.4)

Book Reference

Rousseau,Jean-Jacques: 'The Social Contract', ed/tr. Cranston,Maurice [Penguin 1972], p.55


A Reaction

Rousseau is (in the context) guilty of the basic error of confusing freedom of action with freedom of the will. If the will has scope to act, it has freedom of action; if the will is not contrained in its decision by prior causes, it has freedom of will.