Justice and Difference in the Works of Rousseau: Bienfaisance and Pudeur (Cambridge Studies in French, Series Number 39)

According to Rousseau, the best relationship between unequals is one of 'benificence', giving, receiving and repaying benefits. This 1993 book addresses the problem implicit in his writings of whether it is indeed possible for a just and generous relationship to exist between non-equals. Judith Still draws together issues in Rousseau's work which are often treated in isolation: the state, just relations between individuals, sexual politics and the constructing of a feminine identity. She analyses his works, his classical sources, and the conceptual underpinnings of his ethics, crossing the boundary between study of Rousseau as a complex and sensitive writer of fiction and autobiography and consideration of his political and ethical theory. Using techniques of reading drawn from literary theory, particularly from the work of Derrida, de Man and Starobinski, she argues that for Rousseau it is sexual difference which disturbs the practice of benificence. According To Rousseau, The Best Possible Relationship Between Unequals Is One Of 'beneficence', Giving, Receiving And Repaying Benefits. This Book Addresses The Problem Implicit In His Writings Of Whether It Is Indeed Possible For A Just And Generous Relationship To Exist Between Non-equals. Judith Still Draws Together Issues In Rousseau's Work Which Are Often Treated In Isolation: The State, Just Relations Between Individuals, The Genealogy Of Passions, Sexual Politics And The Constructing Of A Feminine Identity. Using Techniques Of Reading Drawn From Literary Theory, Particularly From The Work Of Derrida, De Man And Starobinski, She Analyses The Conceptual Underpinnings Of Rousseau's Ethics, And The Gaps And Contradictions In His Works, To Argue That Ultimately It Is Sexual Difference, Constructed Defensively As A Fixed, Hierarchical Opposition, Which Disturbs The Practice Of Beneficence. She Shows How Rousseau's Reworking Of The Classical Inheritance In A Revolutionary Historical Moment, His Peculiar Combination Of Enlightenment Rationality And Near-pathological Sensibility, And His Oscillating Self-identification With Virility And Femininity, Are Reflected In This Important Aspect Of His Political And Ethical Theory.--book Jacket. 1. The Problem: The Intersection Of Beneficence And Pudicity -- Beneficence -- Theoretical Contradictions -- Textual Disruptions -- Writer-reader Relations -- 2. The Code Of Beneficence -- Social Bond -- Rational Calculation And Emotional Intuition -- Magnanimity And Slavery -- 3. The Practice Of Beneficence And Model Benefactors In The Major Works -- The Confessions: The Identification Of The Self With The Weaker Party -- The Confessions: Rousseau As Benefactor -- The Dialogues: False Beneficence -- Model Beneficence: Julie -- Model Beneficence: Wolmar, Emile's Tutor And The Legislator -- 4. The Passion Of Pity In Rousseau's Theory Of Man -- The Relation Of Passions To Reasoned Behaviour -- Self-love: Amour De Soi And Amour-propre -- The Three Stages Of Pity -- The Relation Between Pity And Amorous Passion -- Pudicity -- Spectacle -- 5. Gyges' Ring: A Reading Of Rousseau's 6[superscript E] Promenade -- Failed Beneficence -- The Gyges' Ring Daydream And The Origin In Plato's Republic -- Invisible Omnipotence -- The Transgression Of Pudicity -- Hierarchy -- 6. Pudicity In Some Of Rousseau's Minor Writings: Its Relationship To Beneficence -- The Portrayal Of Women In La Mort De Lucrece, Les Amours D'edouard, Le Levite D'ephraim And Les Solitaires -- The Breakdown Of Pudicity -- The Relationship Between Pudicity And Beneficence -- The Function Of The Marginal Works As Tests Of Those Hierarchies Which Rousseau Acknowledges -- The Lessons Of The Marginal Works -- Towards A New Interpretation Of The Major Works -- Towards A Reconstructive Reading -- Appendix: Generosity And Pudicity In Gyges Und Sein Ring And Le Roi Candaule. Judith Still. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. According to Rousseau, the best possible relationship between unequals is one of "benificence." This book addresses the problem implicit in his writings of whether it is indeed possible for a just and generous relationship to exist between non-equals. Judith Still draws together issues in Rousseau's work that are often treated in isolation: the state, just relations between individuals, sexual politics and the constructing of a feminine identity. Using techniques of reading drawn from literary theory, she argues that for Rousseau, it is sexual difference that disturbs the practice of benificence. According to Rousseau, the best relationship between unequals is one of 'benificence'. Drawing on literary theory in this 1993 book, Judith Still explores the problems implicit in such a belief. This book seeks to draw together two apparently separate areas of interest in the works of Rousseau: beneficence and pudicity.