Evolution and Politics: A Close Look at Rousseau
Delve into the Enlightenment philosopher's stance on human nature, society, and government.
About the Event
Presented by Basic Program instructors and open to all, these lectures also complement the texts and ideas from our curriculum and always include a Q&A session.
Rousseau distinguishes his political philosophy from that of other major Enlightenment philosophers (especially Hobbes and Locke) by basing his analysis firmly in the idea that human nature has evolved and continues to evolve, so that the job of the political philosopher and of political leaders is not to structure society to curb the worst of human nature, but instead to create the conditions that can bring out and nurture the best. This lecture will explore Rousseau’s arguments for these views and develop their implications for, and their influence on, how we understand the structure and purpose of government. As Rousseau did in his time, we will also look briefly at how recent research in psychology supports or casts doubt on his assumptions and conclusions.
Who's Speaking
Clare Pearson
Basic Program Instructor
Clare Pearson joined the Basic Program staff in 1997 after ten years of undergraduate teaching at the University of Chicago and the honors college at Valparaiso University. She did her undergraduate and graduate work with the Committee on Social Thought at the University of Chicago, where she worked on the intersections of literature and philosophy with special attention to the interrelationship of literature and ethics. While in graduate school, she studied in Germany on a DAAD fellowship, then taught for three years in Germany in a study-abroad program for American undergraduates. She has given papers and published articles on Martin Heidegger and lectures regularly for the Basic Program. In addition to her work in higher education, she also spent a year as lead teacher and acting principal at a Chicago area alternative high school. From 2004 to 2008, she chaired the Basic Program and co-designed the Asian Classics program, which she also chaired from 2006 to early 2009. She is the 2008 recipient of the Graham School Excellence in Teaching Award for the Basic Program, and also teaches in the Humanities and Philosophy Department at Oakton Community College.
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