# Rousseau — The Public and Its Problems character guide

> Rousseau in The Public and Its Problems by John Dewey.

**Role:** minor

**First appearance:** 0001-the-public-and-its-problems

## Who they are

Philosopher whose social contract theory is examined in relation to democracy.

## Relationships

### [Aristotle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_public_and_its_problems_se/characters/aristotle)

_professional_

Rousseau engages critically with Aristotelian ideas about the polis and natural man, reshaping them for his social contract theory.

## In the story

### [The Public and Its Problems](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_public_and_its_problems_se/chapters/the-public-and-its-problems)

Discussed regarding the social contract and the general will.

### [I: Search for the Public](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_public_and_its_problems_se/chapters/i-search-for-the-public)

Mentioned alongside other thinkers to illustrate the absurdity of claiming all social influence belongs to the state.

### [III: The Democratic State](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_public_and_its_problems_se/chapters/iii-the-democratic-state)

Referenced indirectly through the tradition of social contract and individual sovereignty.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_public_and_its_problems_se/characters/rousseau
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_public_and_its_problems_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_public_and_its_problems_se/characters