Jean-Jacques Rousseau was the son of a Genevan watchmaker who became one of the foremost French writers and political theorists of the Enlightenment, penning such classics as 'The Social Contract' and 'Emile'. His 'Discourse on the Origin of Inequality' was written some eight years earlier, and takes as its theme the degradation of humanity through the corrupting influences of civilisation. Rousseau traces the origins of inequality and its increasing prominence over the historical period. His wide-ranging analysis covers a swathe of disparate topics, from compassion and sensitivity, through...

A revolutionary and controversial work, this book is a classic of political theory and a key source of democratic ideals. Rousseau's concepts of "the general will" as a way for individuals' self-interest to unite for a common good, and the individual's submission to government by contract, stand at the heart of democracy. A must-read book for all who care about the foundations of liberty.

Commonly known as the "Second Discourse," is a work by philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau. The text was written in 1754 in response to a prize competition of the Academy of Dijon answering the prompt: What is the origin of inequality among men, and is it authorized by natural law? Though he was not recognized by the prize committee for this piece (as he had been for the Discourse on the Arts and Sciences) he nevertheless published the text in 1755.

Thank you for checking out this book by Theophania Publishing. We appreciate your business and look forward to serving you soon. We have thousands of titles available, and we invite you to search for us by name, contact us via our website, or download our most recent catalogues. This volume introduces the reader to the great confessions of great thinkers - Saint Augustine (354-430), a Berber born in North Africa, one of the most influential theologians in the history of Christianity, Peter Abelard (1079-1142), a brilliant philosopher who was persecuted through his whole life, Jean Jacques...