Locke had illegitimately selected those parts of man he…
“Locke had illegitimately selected those parts of man he needed for his social contract and suppressed all the rest, a theoretically unsatisfactory procedure and a practically costly one. The bourgeois is the measure of the price paid, he who most of all cannot afford to look to his real self, who denies the existence of the thinly boarded-over basement in him, who is most made over for the purposes of a society that does not even promise him perfection or salvation but merely buys him off.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Bloom argues that selective emphasis on certain human aspects in social theory neglects deeper self-awareness, leading to a costly, unsatisfying societal contract.
In simple terms: Selective focus ignores deeper self, causing societal cost.
Key Takeaway
Seek holistic understanding of humanity.
Themes
philosophy
education
human nature
Mood
analytical
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- academic curricula
- personal development
- public policy
Key Concepts
social contract
self
bourgeois critique
Questions to Reflect On
- What aspects of self are most neglected?
- How does selective focus affect society?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on parts can distort whole truth.