The Social Contract · Chapter
VII: The Censorship explained
Rousseau discusses the role of the censorship as the declaration of public judgment, distinct from law which declares the general will.
What happens
Rousseau discusses the role of the censorship as the declaration of public judgment, distinct from law which declares the general will. He argues that the censorial tribunal does not arbitrate but merely declares public opinion, and its decisions are void when they diverge from that opinion. Morality and esteem are inseparable, and while legislation gives birth to morality, the censorship can preserve but not restore it. Examples from France, Sparta, and Samos illustrate how public opinion can be guided or shamed without direct coercion.
Themes in this chapter
The General Will
The censorship is presented as the declaration of public judgment, analogous to how law is the declaration of the general will.
Decline and Corruption of the State
Rousseau warns that when legislation weakens, morality degenerates, and the censorship cannot restore what the laws have failed to preserve.
The Role of the Legislator
The chapter emphasizes that legislation gives birth to morality, and the censorship can only uphold it while laws remain vigorous.
Characters to notice
- Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Author of the chapter, presenting his views on the censorship as a declarative body of public judgment.
Key passages
“As the law is the declaration of the general will, the censorship is the declaration of the public judgment: public opinion is the form of law which the censor administers, and, like the prince, only applies to particular cases.”
Just as law expresses the general will, censorship expresses public opinion; the censor applies this opinion to specific instances, much like a prince applies law.
Rousseau establishes the parallel between law and censorship, both being declarative rather than creative.
“Set up censors while the laws are vigorous; as soon as they have lost their vigour, all hope is gone; no legitimate power can retain force when the laws have lost it.”
Establish censors only when the laws are strong; once the laws weaken, no authority can restore them, and all hope is lost.
Rousseau emphasizes that censorship is a preservative, not a restorative, of morality.
“The employment of seconds in duels, which had been carried to wild extremes in the kingdom of France, was done away with merely by these words in a royal edict: 'As for those who are cowards enough to call upon seconds.'”
The practice of using seconds in duels, which had become excessive in France, was abolished simply by a royal edict labeling those who did so as cowards.
Rousseau illustrates how a well-timed public judgment can shape opinion without force.