A Discourse Upon the Origin and the Foundation of the Inequality Among Mankind
Rousseau challenges conventional views by examining how humans evolved from a natural state of independence into civil society. He argues that moral inequality stems not from nature but from social conventions, particularly private property. Exploring concepts like human perfectibility and self-love, Rousseau critiques how civilization transformed peaceful, self-sufficient beings into comparison-driven individuals dependent on others' opinions. (This is an automatically generated summary.)