Chapter Jean-Jacques Rousseau e il lavoro

Overview & Synopsis

The birth, or fortune, of work goes hand in hand with the recognition of the importance of a particular type of phenomenon that catalyzes Rousseau’s interest. The patrimonialistic model of wealth is replaced by the capitalist one, based on profit by the newly emerging class, the bourgeoisie. The new creed, which was responsible for the birth of political economy, is questioned by Rousseau, for whom the superior interest of the state coincides not with work, but with the virtue of citizens. However, having to admit the formative value of work, he favours only those jobs fostering the subjects’ autonomy. Among these, his preference goes for the craftsman, whose condition allows people to live in the “state of nature”, which is a central topic in Rousseau.