CONSIDERATIONS ON THE GOVERNMENT OF POLAND April 1772

Considerations on the Government of Poland is an essay by French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau concerning the design of a new constitution for the people of Poland (or more exactly, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth). It represents Rousseau's last venture into political theory.

Mably's recommendations were completed in two installments, the first in August 1770 and the second in July 1771. Generally, he called for more radical and substantial changes than Rousseau was to suggest; he was also able to finish his recommendations in a more timely fashion than Rousseau.[1] It was not until 1772 that Rousseau completed his essay. By the time he finished, the First Partition of Poland had already occurred, on February 17, 1772. Russia, Prussia, and Austria had invaded and occupied much of Poland.

The Government of Poland was not published until after Rousseau's death.

Rousseau's work influenced the Polish Constitution of May 3, 1791, the world's second modern codified constitution.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Considerations_on_the_Government_of_Poland

CONSIDERATIONS ON THE GOVERNMENT OF POLAND April 1772
English translation of the full text

constitution.org/jjr/poland.htm

I really like the way he writes.

Who would guess that the mighty philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau influenced the Polish Constitution of May 3?

I hope some people finds this interesting :)

Too much to read for you guys i guess...

Well, Rousseau was in that sphere pretty much for most of his active career. He also had able-bodied contemporaries to help him out. His imprint has largely disappeared I feel. How do I know? Well, I studied constitutional law quite a while back (1996, LOL) and also taught a Polish legal advisor just 2 or 3 months back. We examined the Polish Constitution and it underwent quite a transformation in 1989. 1997 was another major period of reform.

It's just like liberalism. We cannot utter modern liberalism in the same breath as pioneers like John Stuart Mill. Times have moved on and we are inundated with rules which cover almost every contingency.

Like who?

Hobbes paved the way before him. Montesquieu is another. Let's not forget John Locke. Good enough for you? They all died before 1772 I think.

Hobbes advocated an authoritarian monarchy...

And he lived like 100 years before Rousseau.

There was a lot of substantive overlap and you are interpreting contemporary way too literally. They covered the same ground for the most part. It doesn't matter that they reached different conclusions, it matters that they influenced one another.

Are you sure about that?

I can agree that they influenced the modern constitutions. But i don't think they influenced one another...

Gee whizz, lad. I can see you are trolling. Go and look at the social contract theory. SeanBM knows that I mention it endlessly. I can also recommend Dicey to you for modern reading on Constitutional Law and provisions. I taught Polish constitutional norms to a senior legal advisor here, I think I know what I'm talking about.

No im not trolling. i just don't believe that they influenced each other.


I did and i can agree that Hobbes, Montesquieu, John Locke, and Rousseau inspired the modern constitutions.

Well, that's your opinion but I studied them in my first course and I can confirm that you are wrong. Nonetheless, you are entitled to your erroneous opinion.

Well that's good then, as that is what I've been telling you. Their ideas rubbed off on one another and they undoubtedly had a role in shaping modern constitutional thought.

How am i wrong?

Did they know each other?
Did they read each others books?
Did they live at the same time?

You know damn well how contemporary history works. Yes, they read one another's work to gain more understanding and you know that very well. They left an indelible imprint on constitutional thinking.