Rousseaus Social Contract

3 Pages 862 Words

What Freedom?
One of the most thought provoking ideas in Rousseau’s Social Contract was when he stated that “Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains.” Today, this very same idea still stands true. Everywhere you look, there is an example of a person being tied to, or answering to another. It is sad to think that even though it is our constitutional right to be free, no one can ever be absolutely free.

An example of man being in chains could lie within the family. Until most people are 18, they are expected to obey their parents, regardless of how they may feel. Even if a teenager is completely responsible and trustworthy, his parents may decide against something he wants to do, whether it be going to a party or going to the mall to ‘hang out’. It all depends on the type of parents a teenager may have. If this teen decides to do whatever he wants, then his parents will lose a sense of respect and trust for him, even if he did nothing wrong. Sadly, things happen in our world that make it impossible for parents to agree to everything teens want to do. So, in a sense, it is almost society that puts the chains on teenagers. Either way, a lot of teens do not get to experience as much as they would like because of how parents feel about what is going on around them.

Another good example of how we are in chains lies inside each and every one of us. We are sometimes held back by our own values and beliefs of the world around us. For instance, a person may feel it necessary to act outside of his usual boundaries, but not do so because he is afraid of how others will view him and how he will feel about himself. If I were to decide I wanted to go to a party, I would feel very uncomfortable because it is not something I do. My beliefs and feelings would interfere with what I want to do, so in a way, I am held back by my own chains.

Still, another example lies in the federal and state governments. There ...