Rousseau on amour-propre

O'Hagan, Tim and Dent, N J H (1998) Rousseau on amour-propre. Proceedings of the Aristotelian Society, 72 (1). pp. 57-74. ISSN 1467-9264

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Abstract

According to familiar accounts, Rousseau held that humans are actuated by two distinct kinds of self love: amour de soi, a benign concern for one's self-preservation and well-being; and amour-propre, a malign concern to stand above other people, delighting in their despite. I argue that although amour-propre can (and often does) assume this malign form, this is not intrinsic to its character. The first and best rank among men that amour-propre directs us to claim for ourselves is that of occupying 'man's estate'. This does not require, indeed it precludes, subjection of others. Amour-propre does not need suppression or circumscription if we are to live good lives; it rather requires direction to its proper end, not a delusive one.

Item Type:	Article
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Arts and Humanities > School of Politics, Philosophy, Language and Communication Studies (former - to 2024)
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Arts and Humanities > Research Groups > Philosophy
Depositing User:	Pure Connector
Date Deposited:	03 Dec 2013 15:22
Last Modified:	27 May 2025 23:53
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/45062
DOI:	10.1111/1467-8349.00034

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