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Philosophize This!

Episode #045 ... Rousseau Government pt. 1

Philosophize This!

Stephen West

Philosophy, Society & Culture, Education

4.817.1K Ratings

🗓️ 15 December 2014

⏱️ 27 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

On this episode of the podcast, we examine the origins of government and discuss several opinions on how to construct the best system. First, we imagine that we’re stranded on an island and are forced to devise a system to organize ourselves into a functional “society.” Next, we discuss Hobbes' and Rousseau’s viewpoints on the state of nature and how it relates to the formation of governments. Finally, we talk about the adverse affects civilization and government have on our happiness and why we should constantly reevaluate the systems that are in place. All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This! Thank you so much for listening! Could never do this without your help.  Website: https://www.philosophizethis.org/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/philosophizethis  Social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philosophizethispodcast X: https://twitter.com/iamstephenwest Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/philosophizethisshow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

For more information about this or any episode of the podcast, check out the website at

0:04.8

philosophizethis.org.

0:06.4

We have additional content, further reading, transcripts of every show, all three, of course.

0:12.2

But if you value the shows and educational resource and you want to help keep it going,

0:15.8

you can find out more about how to do that at patreon.com slash philosophize this or alternatively.

0:21.0

If you're buying something from Amazon this week anyway, consider clicking through

0:24.4

our banner.

0:25.4

It's at the bottom center of the landing page of philosophizethis.org.

0:29.6

1% of the show goes back to the show.

0:31.3

It may just be a click for you, but every little bit adds up.

0:34.3

Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday.

0:37.2

And I hope you love the show.

0:39.4

Ahoy matey, I'm Steven West, the host of the philosophize this podcast.

0:45.4

And I want to start the show today by using our imaginations about something.

0:48.6

Alright, we're going to start the show with a thought experiment.

0:52.0

I want you to imagine that we're all taking a vacation together.

0:55.7

Everybody listening to this right now, we all meet up in Los Angeles Harbor.

0:59.0

We all got our suitcases packed.

1:01.2

We all went to Walmart and got our absolutely horrifying Hawaiian shirts.

1:06.8

We're all wearing them.

1:07.8

We're all getting on the philosophize this cruise line.

1:10.4

We're all going on a cruise together.

...

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