During my first year of imprisonment, confined in solitude, I encountered an anthology of great philosophers. That book introduced me to the works of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, including Confessions and The Social Contract. Rousseau’s work helped to shape the foundation of my mindset for the decades ahead. These two works offered lessons that transformed how I viewed my personal life and my responsibilities to society.
Key Lessons from Confessions
Confessions is Rousseau’s deeply personal autobiography, written with an unusual level of honesty for his time. Through his self-examination, Rousseau models how reflecting on one’s own life—both its triumphs and failings—can lead to self-awareness and growth.
- Radical Honesty with Oneself
Rousseau’s willingness to admit his flaws and errors taught me the value of confronting the truth about my own life. Early in my incarceration, I had to acknowledge the bad decisions I made that led me into the criminal justice system. Denial and self-justification were chains of their own. Only by facing the truth could I begin to change. - Learning from Past Decisions
Rousseau examined not just what he did but why he did it, analyzing how his choices and environment shaped his life. I learned to do the same: to look back on my early years, the influences that led me astray, and the opportunities I ignored to make better choices. - Taking Ownership of One’s Story
In Confessions, Rousseau doesn’t shy away from owning his mistakes. He believes in presenting himself as he truly is, flaws and all. From this, I realized that taking responsibility for my actions was the first step toward rebuilding my character and earning back the trust of others.
Rousseau’s lessons on introspection taught me that self-reflection is not about dwelling on past failures—it’s about learning from them and using that understanding to guide better choices moving forward.
Key Lessons from The Social Contract
While Confessions encouraged me to look inward, The Social Contract expanded my understanding of my responsibilities to others. Rousseau’s ideas about society and personal responsibility reshaped how I thought about my role, even within the restrictive environment of prison.
- The Importance of the Social Contract
Rousseau argues that individuals give up certain freedoms in exchange for the benefits of living in a structured society. This principle helped me see that my actions had consequences—not just for myself, but for others. My crimes broke the trust that society placed in me. Moving forward, I had a duty to rebuild that trust. - Aligning Personal Will with the Common Good
In The Social Contract, Rousseau emphasizes the concept of the “general will”—the collective good of society. I began to think about how my future decisions could contribute to the well-being of others, not just myself. - The Role of Personal Responsibility
Rousseau’s work taught me that to function as part of a society, I had to hold myself accountable. I couldn’t expect change to come from external forces. Instead, I needed to focus on changing myself first so that I could become a productive member of the broader community.
By understanding these principles, I realized that I could still have a meaningful role in society—even from within prison. I could begin making decisions that aligned with long-term goals of personal growth, contributing to others, and living with integrity.
Applying Rousseau’s Lessons in My Life
These lessons from Rousseau became central to my strategy for serving my sentence and preparing for success after release. I committed to examining my past choices and their consequences, aligning my actions with principles that benefited others, and holding myself accountable every step of the way.
Even in solitary confinement, I began to rebuild my life. I educated myself, created goals, and worked to live with a sense of purpose. Rousseau’s writings helped me understand that while my circumstances were difficult, I still had the power to make choices that would define my future.
Reflective Question
In what ways can reflecting on your past decisions help you to align your future choices with the person you want to become?
