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The Discourse Of Inequality By Jean-Jacques Rousseau

522 Words3 Pages

Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s text The Discourse of Inequality brings to light a powerful critique on modernity, centralizing the psychological and political effect on human nature. Whereas John Locke’s concept within the state of nature declares selective men the entitlement of life, liberty and property—Rousseau argues for human evolution’s development—close in proximity to the inequalities facing society. This comparative essay will argue in support for Rousseau’s diagnoses on the unequal modern political and societal institutions that impact the development of man.
John Locke’s favorable opinion on the importance of biblical text states “God, who hath given the world to men in common, hath also given them reason to make use of it to the best advantage of life, and convenience” (Locke); the right for men to use what is around and further their own preservation in life. Man has an inherent right to possession of himself and all that comes with it, “the labor of his body, and work of his …show more content…

The state of nature exists before reason and nothing from the post-state-of-nature could exist in the state of nature; “it is impossible to understand the Law of Nature and hence to obey it without being a very great reasoner and a profound metaphysician.” Rousseau however agrees with Locke on the inclination of man towards self-preservation and others, however natural law does not exist in the state of nature. “I believe I perceive in it two principles prior to reason, of which one interests us intensely in our well-being and our self-preservation, and the other inspires in us a natural repugnance to seeing any sentient being, and especially any being like ourselves, perish or suffer” (Rousseau). These principles are “prior to reason” and do not require a rational mind to interpret, they are inherent within

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