Rousseau's Discourse On The Origins Of Inequality

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In Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s Discourse on The Origins of Inequality, Rousseau is arguing to his readers about the natural state of a man, and how it connects back to inequality. Rousseau argues his ideas of amour propre; living in the eyes of other people and amour de soi; self-preservation. I believe that Rousseau’s analysis of civilization is in fact true, I do agree with his analysis. In the next paragraphs I will be discussing how Rousseau has developed amour propre and amour de soi, as well as his analysis on civilization. Throughout the essay I will also be giving a few pieces of evidence that support my thesis from peer reviewed journals. Throughout Rousseau’s book he is constantly referring to man as individuals. Rousseau believes that man is independent, and that no man should so rich while another man is so poor. Rousseau’s beliefs on this is due to the belief that a man is stronger as one, their state of mentality and physically is stronger without a family. Although he sees their are some benefits in having a whole family, it is more natural and stronger to stay as one. Nature is simply happiness, solidarity, and basic needs, not civilization and the division of labor. You can rely on …show more content…

As I discussed this idea of Rousseau with classmates, I soon realized how true it is. A baby is not born with the intentions to kill, nor are they born with the inventions of making their parents suffer. A child actually learns these traits, their parents may not teach them to kill, but society’s acceptance of horror movies are a simple way children can misinterpret norms. Everything that society does is like a candy store where a child gets to pick and choose what flashy information or memoires they want to retain. You cannot shield a child form the reality of the world, that would take away Rousseau’s very belief of

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