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Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Hong Kong Politics
This is my philosophy undergraduate thesis. To look at current Hong Kong politics (2005) with Rousseau's perspective is incredibly interesting (in my opinion). I hope you would feel that too.
Things you need to do before reading this:
Read The Social Contract and The Discourse on the origin and the foundations of inequality among men
even if you do not understand after reading them the first time, it's ok
Abbreviations:
SC The Social Contract
DOI The Discourse on the origin and the foundations of inequality among men,
or Second discourse
PRC The People Republic of China (Michael said I am very harsh on them. I
admit. Basically I am very harsh when I am criticising)
I. Introduction-Paradigm Shift Why you have to read Rousseau. You don't
have to start reading here.
II. Rousseau's world (helpful for anyone who feel puzzled)
III. Hong Kong
i. Background
Not every form of government is suited to every country¡Xsome facts about Hong Kong
(as I am very lazy in doing research, it may not be a comprehensive account of Hong Kong History. But other sources are widely available)
The Handover Where is the centre of Hong Kong's current problems?
ii. Alternative to common sense (or government propaganda)
Tranquil Violence Reaction to Mainland officials' call for more harmony.
Modern Democracy (representative sovereign)
The freedom to think and the power to make things happen
(to compress a good life into less than two thousands words is almost impossible. but it provides some useful clues)
iii. Moving forward
External barrier: who is Hong Kong's sovereign?
Internal barrier: Mounting inequality and Social divisions
There is no grand conclusion. We have to face an unknown Future.
What's more important than your comments?
Politics is about giving opinions. Let me know: gtgreen-tea@excite.com or
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My thesis is finished but it doesn't mean I should stop writing:
Beijing vs. Taiwan? On so-called International relation. May 2005
Maybe you have noticed my ideas resemble the Greens/ European socialists. I think the Greens are fantastic and Hong Kong should have one. (But we need to have democracy first) My ideas are not original (no one's idea is 100% original anyway) Feel free to copy and paste for your essay.
The version of SC & DOI I've used:
Jean-Jacques Rousseau. The Discourse and other early political writings. Discourse on the origin and foundations of inequality among men. Edited and translated by Victor Gourevitch. Great Britain: Cambridge University Press. 1997.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau. The Social Contract and other later political writings. Edited and translated by Victor Gourevitch. Great Britain: Cambridge University Press. 1997.
Philosophy is a practice of Life. And it is fun.
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