Rousseau's Theory of Human Association : Transparent and Opaque Communities

"This book examines Rousseau's ideas about the natural transparency of human intention, the loss of this transparency in the opaque cities of Europe, and the possibility of its restoration within small republican communities. The author weaves together Rousseau's provocative conjectures about transparency and opaqueness to provide an original interpretation of Rousseau's political thought and its bearing on several contemporary controversies. He also argues that civic cooperation in Rousseau's model republic requires mutual surveillance; that Hobbes's argument for a sovereign state assumes the natural opacity of human intention; and that Adam Smith's "invisible hand" cannot efficiently coordinate the self-interested choices of opaque traders"--Provided by publisher This Book Examines Rousseau?s Ideas About The Natural Transparency Of Human Intention, The Loss Of This Transparency In The Opaque Cities Of Europe, And The Possibility Of Its Restoration Within Small Republican Communities. The Author Weaves Together Rousseau?s Provocative Conjectures About Transparency And Opaqueness To Provide An Original Interpretation Of Rousseau?s Political Thought And Its Bearing On Several Contemporary Controversies. He Also Argues That Civic Cooperation In Rousseau?s Model Republic Requires Mutual Surveillance; That Hobbes?s Argument For A Sovereign State Assumes The Natural Opacity Of Human Intention; And That Adam Smith?s?invisible Hand? Cannot Efficiently Coordinate The Self-interested Choices Of Opaque Traders. Introduction * Transparency And Opacity In Nature, Society, And State * Association And Civil Society In Transparent And Opaque Societies * Opaque Traders And The Invisible Hand * The Ring Of Gyges, The Perfect Shield, And The Veil Of Ignorance* Conclusion. Greg Hill. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [188]-196) And Index. Cover......Page 1 Contents......Page 8 List of Tables......Page 9 List of Figures......Page 10 Previously Published Work......Page 11 Acknowledgments......Page 13 Preface......Page 14 One: Introduction......Page 16 Two: Transparency and Opacity in Nature, Society, and State......Page 26 Three: Association and Civil Society in Transparent and Opaque Communities......Page 60 Four: Opaque Traders and the Invisible Hand......Page 104 Five: The Ring of Gyges, the Perfect Shield, and the Veil of Ignorance......Page 142 Six: Conclusion......Page 169 Notes......Page 176 Bibliography......Page 203 C......Page 212 G......Page 213 M......Page 214 R......Page 215 S......Page 216 Y......Page 217 The book explores the characteristic features and political consequences of social interaction when the parties' intentions are transparent, and when they are opaque. The author develops a theory of association and uses it to elucidate, assess and extend Rousseau's views of human nature, civil society, the market economy and the republican state.