Discourse on the Origin of InequalityRousseau first exposes in Discourse on the Origin of Inequality his conception of a human state of nature, presented as a philosophical fiction and of human perfectibility, an early idea of progress. He then explains the way, according to him, people may have established civil society, which leads him to present private property as the original source and basis of all inequality. Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712 – 1778) was a Genevan philosopher, writer, and composer of the 18th century, mainly active in France. His political philosophy influenced the Enlightenment across Europe, as well as aspects of the French Revolution and the overall development of modern political and educational thought. |
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ACADEMY OF DIJON acquire advantage animals assistance authority beasts became become Caribbean civil civil society common conceive condition consequence consider constantly constitution continued danger degree dependence despotism disorders earth equally established everything faculties favour females force free agent give hands happiness hard matter honour human species ideas individuals indolent instinct invention judge jurisconsults kind labour languages law of nature laws least liberty likewise live longer Lycurgus magistrates mankind manner master means metaphysical mind mischief mother multiplied nations natural inequality natural philosophy natural right necessary necessity never obey obliged observe occasion oppression pain passions perceive perfect perpetual philosophers pity Plato possession prejudice preservation primitive produced proportion reason render requisite revolutions rich robust savage savage nations scarce sensible sentiment slavery slaves society soon Sparta speak strength strongest subsistence suppose things tree virtue wants weak words