Activity, passivity and the politics of will and disposition in the thought of John Locke and Jean Jacques Rousseau : a philosophical and contextual examination of Locke's and Rousseau's theories of volition and their moral and political significance
This thesis addresses the creative encounter between volition and politics, in the philosophical, theological and political writings of Locke and Rousseau. Utilising historical, contextual and philosophical forms of interpretation, it aims to explore whether Locke or Rousseau held consistent views about volition and what those were. It then seeks to cash out these views for their understanding of political institutions and political agents. This thesis explores the way Locke and Rousseau understood volition according to a traditional distinction between active and passive powers; however, both of them reconsider the nature of this dichotomy. Locke, it is argued, thought volition could be either active or passive. Rousseau, by contrast, believed volition to be a composite of interrelating active and passive capacities. Both thinkers identify active willing with real virtue and freedom, and both believe a kind of sublimated love is essential to realise this activity. Furthermore, this thesis considers the ways in which these theories of volition underlie Locke and Rousseauâs broader understandings of an agentâs disposition. This links Lockeâs views on active volition to the mentalities appropriate for
Thompson, Benjamin Christopher
Activity, passivity and the politics of will and disposition in the thought of John Locke and Jean Jacques Rousseau : a philosophical and contextual examination of Locke's and Rousseau's theories of volition and their moral and political significance. This thesis addresses the creative encounter between volition and politics, in the philosophical, theological and political writings of Locke and Rousseau. Utilising historical, contextual and philosophical forms of interpretation, it aims to explore whether Locke or Rousseau held consistent views about volition and what those were. It then seeks to cash out these views for their understanding of political institutions and political agents. This thesis explores the way Locke and Rousseau understood volition according to a traditional distinction between active and passive powers; however, both of them reconsider the nature of this dichotomy. Locke, it is argued, thought volition could be either active or passive. Rousseau, by contrast, believed volition to be a composite of interrelating active and passive capacities. Both thinkers identify active willing with real virtue and freedom, and both believe a kind of sublimated love is essential to realise this activity. Furthermore, this thesis considers the ways in which these theories of volition underlie Locke and Rousseauâs broader understandings of an agentâs disposition. This links Lockeâs views on active volition to the mentalities appropriate for
activity politics disposition think john locke jean rousseau philosophical contextual examination locke rousseau theories volition moral_political significance address creative encounter volition politics philosophical_theological political_writing locke rousseau utilising historical contextual philosophical form interpretation aim_explore whether locke rousseau hold consistent view volition seek cash view political_institution political agent explores_way locke rousseau understood volition accord traditional distinction active passive power however reconsider nature dichotomy locke argue think volition could either active passive rousseau contrast believe volition composite interrelate active passive capacity thinker identify active willing real virtue freedom believe kind love essential realise activity furthermore considers_way theory volition underlie locke rousseau broader understanding agent disposition link locke view active volition mentality appropriate