Rousseau's Unequal Society

Words: 540
Pages: 3
Open Document
Is it possible for humans to begin in the state of nature and never fall into the corrupt ways of an unequal society? The state of nature is the purest way to begin life, but modern-day humans are starting to grow in an unequal society which is corrupting them. Rousseau, the author and philosopher of the Discourse on the Origin of Inequality, makes judgements on society and how it corrupts humans. Additionally, Rousseau explains his philosophy behind the state of nature progressing into an unequal society. A man in the state of nature always progresses to become corrupt from the unequal ways of society. There are several intermediate steps for a man to start in the state of nature and to become fully corrupt. These steps include, beginning …show more content…
The state of nature is the purest way to begin life, but modern-day humans are developing in an unequal society. Children naturally follow a perspective, in this case their parent’s, thus leading to a constant round-about effect of inequality and corruption. If children were raised in the state of nature, Rousseau believes they would follow the law of Sparta. Thus causing them to “render strong and robust and those who are well constituted” (Rousseau, 19). This natural state gives humans a limited amount of knowledge, their only resource is learning from wild animals. Animals are skillful and intelligent, but ferocious creatures. Furthermore, humans growing in the state of nature gives them the perspective and mindset of a wild animal. Children and humans start to develop more like the wild animals and become skillful and intelligent, but convert into “a savage man living dispersed among the animals” (20). A savage man is slowly becoming more corrupted because he is acting as if an animal. Animals have the instinct to use violence to protect and fight for themselves, additionally they do not have reasoning. When humans procced to act as if a wild creature, it’s known as savagely because they have reasoning. Unfortunately, once man has realized he has become savage, there is no possible way to transform back into the state of being pure. This realization makes him pity
Show More

Related Documents: Rousseau's Unequal Society

Locke Vs Rousseau

Although both agreed that man began in the state of nature, they had different ideas about what occurred during that time. In Rousseau’s state of nature, man’s problems were external (physical), not internal (moral). There was physical inequality; this was determined by differences in age, health, bodily strength, and mental capabilities. In the state of nature, only those that were well equipped survived the harsh weather and the challenges of the differing seasons. Children followed their parents…

Words 1478 - Pages 6

T Paine Essay

compare and contrast Paine and Rousseau’s ideologies against those of the rejected candidates: Mary Wollstonecraft and Immanuel Kant. In “An Occasional Letter on the Female Sex”, Paine presents two general thoughts: the tyranny of men over women and the need to appreciate and praise women in their domestic roles. Paine first claims that “man with regard to [woman]…has been either an insensible husband or an oppressor”. He supports this claim by discussing the unequal treatment of women in various…

Words 1121 - Pages 5

Lybia: Africa and African Central Bank Essay

Do you know the real reason for the war against Libya? face hidden from the ice berg: I strongly recommend you to read seriously what follows. 1-First African satellite RASCOM 1 Gaddafi's Libya is offering to all of Africa's first true revolution of modern times: ensuring couverturecouverture Universal continent for telephony, television, broadcasting and many other applications such as telemedicine and distance education for the first time, a connection at low cost becomes available…

Words 3833 - Pages 16

Biography Of Socrates

SOCRATES Socrates 469 BC–399 BC, was a classical Greek Athenian philosopher. Credited as one of the founders of Western philosophy, he is an enigmatic figure known chiefly through the accounts of later classical writers, especially the writings of his students Plato and Xenophon, and the plays of his contemporary Aristophanes. Many would claim that Plato's dialogues are the most comprehensive accounts of Socrates to survive from antiquity. Through his portrayal in Plato's dialogues, Socrates has…

Words 9241 - Pages 37