In 1762, **he published his most important work on political theory, The Social Contract**. His opening line is still striking today: “Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains.” The Social Contract helped inspire political reforms or revolutions in Europe, especially in France. [[Friedrich Nietzsche]] would have viewed Rousseau as promoting a worldview that suppresses the naturally superior by enforcing a slave [[Morality]]—a morality of the weak that seeks to limit the strong. Nietzsche saw Rousseau’s emphasis on equality and the “noble savage” as an illusion that feeds resentment (ressentiment), leading to the [[Repression|suppression]] of the powerful by the weaker masses. ### How Nietzsche Critiques Rousseau’s Ideas Nietzsche does not engage in a direct, sustained critique of Rousseau in his works, but his ideas in [[Beyond Good and Evil]], The Genealogy of Morals, and [[Thus spoke Zarathustra]] implicitly and explicitly counter Rousseau’s thought. 1. Rousseau’s “Noble Savage” vs. Nietzsche’s View of Strength • Rousseau’s [[Belief]] that humans were once peaceful and only became corrupt due to [[Society]] clashes with Nietzsche’s idea that struggle and conflict are part of life. • In Beyond Good and Evil (§197), Nietzsche mocks the “back-to-nature” ideal, calling it a fantasy of weak minds that wish to escape the harsh realities of life. “What they would like is a return to some kind of happy simplicity, a state of innocence that never existed.” • For Nietzsche, the idea of a peaceful, pre-social human is a delusion—power struggles have always defined human existence. 2. Rousseau’s Egalitarianism as “Slave Morality” • In On the Genealogy of Morals, Nietzsche describes slave morality as a system created by the weak to subdue the strong. • The weak, instead of confronting their inferiority, create a moral system that turns their weakness into virtue: • Power becomes evil • Humility becomes good • Suffering becomes noble • Rousseau’s idea of returning to a state of equality aligns with this—Nietzsche sees it as resentment-driven moral inversion. • Instead of aspiring to be strong, people glorify victimhood and blame society for their weakness. • In Beyond Good and Evil (§9), Nietzsche suggests that egalitarianism is a mask for resentment: “‘Equality for all’ – but that means the diminishment of the strong.” • Nietzsche would argue that Rousseau’s belief in an “ideal” social contract forces the superior to conform to the values of the weak. 1. The French Revolution as an Example of “Ressentiment” • Rousseau’s philosophy inspired the French Revolution, which Nietzsche saw as a triumph of the resentful masses over natural aristocracy. • In The Will to Power (125), he calls the Revolution: “the revenge of the failures, the botched, the weak.” • He believed that the Enlightenment ideas of equality and democracy were masked forms of revenge by the weak against those who naturally rise to power. • Instead of embracing hierarchy and greatness, the Revolution leveled down society, punishing those who had achieved power. 2. Rousseau’s Idea of a Just Society vs. Nietzsche’s “Will to Power” • Rousseau idealised a just society where laws and institutions create fairness. • Nietzsche rejected the idea that fairness is natural or desirable—powerful individuals should not be constrained by artificial moral rules. • In Thus Spoke Zarathustra, Nietzsche describes the Übermensch, who creates his own values rather than submitting to the morality of the weak. • He warns against systems that seek to eliminate struggle and hierarchy: “A state? What is that? Well then! Now open your ears to me, for now I will say my word about the death of peoples. State is the name of the coldest of all cold monsters. Coldly it tells lies too; and this lie crawls out of its mouth: ‘I, the state, am the people.’” • Rousseau’s social contract relies on a collective, but Nietzsche argues that the state exists only to pacify and control. ### Conclusion: Nietzsche vs. Rousseau in a Sentence • Rousseau believes inequality corrupts human nature, so we must return to fairness and cooperation. • Nietzsche believes inequality is life’s driving force, and Rousseau’s idealism is a form of weakness that suppresses the strong. Nietzsche sees Rousseau’s vision of justice as a morality trap, designed to make the powerful feel guilty for their strength. Instead, Nietzsche embraces struggle and hierarchy as essential for human greatness. # Films There aren’t many films specifically depicting Jean-Jacques Rousseau as a character, but a few touch on his ideas or feature him indirectly. Here are some that may interest you: 1. “Le Souper” (1992) – This French historical drama is set during a dinner between Talleyrand and Fouché in 1815. While Rousseau himself doesn’t appear, his philosophy influenced the political landscape they discuss. 2. “Mozart’s Sister” (2010) – This film about Nannerl Mozart includes references to Rousseau’s influence on education and gender roles, as his ideas about childhood were prominent in Enlightenment thought. 3. “Diderot, le libertin” (1974) – A TV film about Denis Diderot, Rousseau’s contemporary and one-time friend-turned-rival, discussing philosophy and the Encyclopédie movement. 4. “Les Amours de la reine Élisabeth” (1912) – An early silent film featuring Sarah Bernhardt, which indirectly connects to Rousseau through its period setting. Would you be interested in films more about the Enlightenment era rather than Rousseau himself? `Concepts:` `Knowledge Base:`