A Discourse on Inequality

By Jean-Jacques Rousseau, J. Rousseau, Jacques Jean Rousseau

Book Overview

In A Discourse on Inequality, Rousseau sets out to demonstrate how the growth of civilization corrupts man's natural happiness and freedom by creating artificial inequalities of wealth, power and social privilege. Contending that primitive man was equal to his fellows, Rousseau believed that as societies become more sophisticated, the strongest and most intelligent members of the community gain an unnatural advantage over their weaker brethren, and that constitutions set up to rectify these imbalances through peace and justice in fact do nothing but perpetuate them. Rousseau's political and social arguments in the Discourse were a hugely influential denunciation of the social conditions of his time and one of the most revolutionary documents of the eighteenth-century.

For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B005637W5W
• ISBN13: 9780140444391
• Release Date: February 1985
• Publisher: Penguin Group
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.0" x 7.8"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

A profound examination of the human condition

This is a book I picked up and began reading. It was probably the most interesting book I have ever read. It was my introduction to the Classic texts and remains my favorite.

In the name of Iran

This book was pretext for Karl MARX idea of communism. Rousseau blamed inequality among people due to ownership of property.

Excellent

Excellent discourse. This book discusses some of the rudiments of the history of inequality and how its self supporting and ever existing in human nature. I recommend this book for those readers who either want to increase their knowledge on Jean-Jacques Rousseau or historical development of inequalityFor those who want to further their command over Rousseau's life- I suggest them to read 'Confessions' by Rousseau.

The garden of eden

I find Rousseau especially creative in the way he describes how inequality progressed from the time the first humans made contact. He makes a good case for the solitary life. I think Rousseau believes it is destructive whenever humans come together in groups. Governments were formed to protect the weaker from the stronger or as Rousseau thinks to actually protect the rich from the poor. This is an outstanding book. It will haunt you.