Pascal's Pensées, and Rousseau's On the Social Contract (Books 2 and 3)

“Man was born free, but everywhere he is in chains. This man believes that he is the master of others, and still he is more of a slave than they are. How did that transformation take place? I don't know. How may the restraints on man become legitimate? I do believe I can answer that question…”

At this meeting we will spend the first hour looking at the Pensées of Pascal. If anyone wants to talk about any one of Pascal's thoughts in particular, or one of his more abiding preoccupations, please feel free to mention it at the meeting. And we will then continue discussing On the Social Contract, which is the culmination of Rousseau's work in the realm of political philosophy. We'll be discussing Book 2 and 3, and we'll continue our discussion of the distinction between the "will of all" and "the general will".

Please read to the end of Book 3 of On the Social Contract before the meeting.

Rousseau wrote on a wide variety of subjects, but the group will first delve into his political theory. And, while the group will concentrate on Rousseau, we may also take a look at other writers of the French Enlightenment; i.e. Montesquieu, Diderot, and, although he was a bit earlier, Montaigne.

This is the translation of the Rousseau we will be using in the meetings: https://annas-archive.org/md5/9c70d9441bf70f896c87a1ccd668c0bd

This is the edition of the Pascal we'll use in the meeting:
https://annas-archive.org/md5/6f44e8b57466bc72a7dac5b6b1ec1e96