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Rousseau's Argument For The Social Contract

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In 1972, Rousseau argued for the social contract which was meant to rectify the social and moral vices brought in the society due to development. He was very concerned about the history of mankind and how they ought to live together. He argues that when man was born he was free but now he is in chains. He further argues that mankind is and ought to live in a generally free nature but civilization has curbed that freedom and human authenticity through economic and social inequality. In order to restore freedom to mankind, Rousseau suggests there has to be a social contract. The establishment of a social contract in the society requires mankind to wilfully let a political entity govern him and his private property. This kind of submission …show more content…

Rousseau argues that mankind has an intrinsic need for self-preservation. He calls this need amour de soi. Amour de soi leads mankind to instantly take care of their basic needs first. Alongside amour de soi, Rousseau talks of pitie which means compassion. He argues that self-preservation and compassion need to go hand in hand. Pitie leads mankind to have compassion for other people without compromising their self-preservation. In the Discourse of Origins of Inequality, Rousseau talks of a world where mankind lives independently without relying on any one else to provide for their needs. At this point, human beings are free and are able to achieve morality, and self-consciousness. However, their freedom subjects them to a society of oppression, reliance and authority. As the society becomes civilized, human beings begin to change and get a need to take care of themselves in a more competitive manner. They begin to view people around them as …show more content…

He sees amour propre as the beginning of all evil. In the Discourse on Inequality, Rousseau attributes amour propre to the emergence of an unequal society where people who need access to material things have to work for those who have, and superiors need subordinates to make them feel good about themselves. This forms a society of people who need to surrender their freedom and get recognition from the society. In the Second Discourse, Rousseau talks of the social contract in which he claims that all mankind gets to enjoy the state protection while remaining free. The key to the idea of social contract is the general will which must come from all mankind and at the same time apply to all mankind. Mankind has to willingly give up their freedom for the good of the rest of the

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