What Extent Do You Find The Influence Of Rousseaus Views essays

What Extent Do You Find The Influence Of Rousseaus Views essays Rousseaus ideology can be considered as more or less the foundation of the French Revolution. David (1748 1825) was a neo-classical painter of revolution who took his inspiration from both past and present. Davids painting, therefore, considering the fact that he was the painter of the French Revolution, depicted revolutionist ideas. The call-to-arms of the The Oath of Horatii, to the fall of a hero Marat at his Last Breathe and to the rise of Emperor Napoleon at St. Bernard all these painting have demonstrated the highs and lows of the French Revolution. There is a close link between Rousseaus ideas and the The Oath Of Horatii. It is actually a bombardment to the senses of an individuals particular will against a states general will in many senses. This can be seen in the pictorial space, layout of figures, etc. The following essay tries to demonstrate the extent of Rousseaus philosophy on Davids painting, The Oath Of Horatii. Let us first look at Rousseaus philosophy. Tired of intellectual restrictions of religion and the political constraints of absolutism, Jean-Jacques Rousseau came up with ideologies to counteract them. According to Jean-Jacques Rousseau, a person or institution has authority if they are able to command others to do things. That authority becomes legitimate only if the person, or institution, possesses the right to command others. To be legitimate, the authority that the state has over the people must come from the people themselves, and not from a single entity such as the king. Power that comes from such sources is usually referred to as naked power. In such a scenario, it is doubtful as to whether the people are obeying the state because they ought to, or because they are afraid of the consequences if they do not. There is also no guarantee that in the absence of the state, the p...