Théophile Pénigaud
Abstract: Most of the studies about the notion of recognition in Rousseau’s works have focused on “amour-propre”, or self-love, as an “evil” or a “social pathology” (Honneth, 1994; Carnevali, 2004; Neuhouser, 2008). This article argues that the desire for recognition plays a positive role in Rousseau’s theory of a well-ordered society, as can be seen in the Considerations on the Government of Poland. A legitimate drive for recognition can even be considered as the basis for the citizen’s virtue. The desire for recognition leads to social pathologies and the associated political abuses only when it becomes … Continua a leggere