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From literature to politics : how Rousseau has come to symbolize totalitarianism

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  • Christophe Salvat

    (TRIANGLE - Triangle : action, discours, pensée politique et économique - ENS de Lyon - École normale supérieure de Lyon - UL2 - Université Lumière - Lyon 2 - IEP Lyon - Sciences Po Lyon - Institut d'études politiques de Lyon - Université de Lyon - UJM - Université Jean Monnet - Saint-Étienne - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

Abstract

It was widely believed after WW2 that totalitarianism could be traced back to Rousseau's rationalistic utopia. This idea conveyed, in particular, by Berlin's Two Concepts of Liberty and Hayek's Road to Serfdom, is still popular in some political circles. This article intends, however, to demonstrate that rather than originating from Kantian readings of the Social Contract, the totalitarian interpretations of Rousseau's work essentially arose from his literary and autobiographical writings. It is Romanticism, and its alleged political and moral deviances, that is indeed targeted through Rousseau. Ironically, this prompted some intellectuals—including Cassirer—to revisit and to reappraise his political thought.

Suggested Citation

  • Christophe Salvat, 2017. "From literature to politics : how Rousseau has come to symbolize totalitarianism," Post-Print halshs-01623365, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:halshs-01623365
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