ABSTRACT
Liberalism’s commitment to reason, over and against the traditions of the past, was designed to advance the cause of liberty. But in doing so, Rousseau viewed liberalism and the bourgeoisie supporting it as attacking both community and equality. Community is built upon sacred values such as respect for the common good and religious traditions. Equality suggests the opportunity for each person to participate in helping to define the common good. But liberals advanced the cause not of the community and the common good for Rousseau, but that of individual self-interest and selfishness. Further, liberals supported equality only insofar as equality before the law meant the enhancement of individual freedom, as opposed to the fostering of community life through full citizen participation by each member of the society.
