A philosophy webcomic about the inevitable anguish of living a brief life in an absurd world. Also Jokes

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Yes, that is exactly what Rousseau meant by "forced to be free".

Hobbes and Rousseau had somewhat different definitions of freedom, with Hobbes giving a very narrow view, claiming that freedom was doing what you wish without physical restraint, even going so far as saying someone would be free to choose in a "money or your life" situation.

Rousseau, on the other hand, thought freedom was using your reason to give your freedom over your own base animal instincts. So the robber himself wouldn't be free in the situation, because a rational being would exist in society peacefully by rationally agreeing to obey the general will.

Both were social contract theorists and thought the State had legitimate power to force its citizens to obey, in various ways.

Hobbes and Rousseau had somewhat different definitions of freedom, with Hobbes giving a very narrow view, claiming that freedom was doing what you wish without physical restraint, even going so far as saying someone would be free to choose in a "money or your life" situation.

Rousseau, on the other hand, thought freedom was using your reason to give your freedom over your own base animal instincts. So the robber himself wouldn't be free in the situation, because a rational being would exist in society peacefully by rationally agreeing to obey the general will.

Both were social contract theorists and thought the State had legitimate power to force its citizens to obey, in various ways.

Philosophers in this comic: Thomas Hobbes, Jean-Jacques Rousseau
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