著者

今野 晃

出版者

東京大学大学院総合文化研究科国際社会科学専攻

雑誌

相関社会科学 (ISSN:09159312)

巻号頁・発行日

no.23, pp.19-33, 2013

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論文PapersThis essay aims to examine a problem concerning the concept "social", by analyzing The Social Contract of Rousseau. For this, I will refer to Althusser's work "On the social contract", where he develops a substantial analysis of the social contract. The concept of the term "social" is taken today immediately understandable. But it was invented in 18th century, when Rousseau wrote The Social Contract. Indeed, Rousseau is one of the pioneers who, by addressing the social relationship, tackled a new theme and a new concept. However, we can question whether Rousseau was able to treat it adequately. Because "social" was such an "avant-garde" concept. This means that Rousseau was not responsible of his failure, because it derived from the newness of the concept. To investigate this problem, I will focus on the discrepancies of the social contract which Althusser brings to light. With this examination, we will see that these discrepancies reflect the problem of social relationship. With this examination, we can understand why we needed to invent this concept in his era. And it will help us to reconsider the concept "social" in our time.