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Rousseau On Inequality And Social Responsibility

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Jacqueline Constanzo LGST 226: Reading Assignment 6 1. The first step towards inequality as described by Rousseau was driven by a desire to be regarded highly by the public. With a growing focus on the importance of being publicly esteemed, inequality began to develop, and ultimately resulted in vanity, contempt, and other vices. 2. According to Rousseau, a society with a division of labor suffers from moral vices including egocentrism and selfishness. He also indicates that the division of labor also led to duplicitous practices, and suspicion of others. Rousseau describes men in a society with division of labor to be abusive of power and conniving when weak. He also says that one prevalent vice in this sort of a society is a ‘consuming ambition’,

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