Discourse on the Origin of Inequality Themes

Discourse on the Origin of Inequality serves as a pointed critique of other Enlightenment thinkers who celebrated reason, progress, and societal advancement as hallmarks of human improvement. While figures like Voltaire, Locke, and Montesquieu viewed civilization and intellectual development as pathways to human flourishing, Rousseau argued that these very developments had corrupted humanity and entrenched inequality. Enlightenment thinkers often championed reason as the means to overcome ignorance and superstition, asserting that science and rational thought…

Rousseau’s distinction between natural and artificial inequality forms the core of his argument in Discourse on the Origin Inequality. He asserts that natural inequality—such as differences in strength, intelligence, or physical attributes—arises from biological or environmental factors. In contrast, artificial inequality stems from societal developments, including the creation of private property, institutional hierarchies, and social conventions. Rousseau argues that natural inequality, while undeniable, plays a minimal role in human relationships in the…

Throughout Discourse on the Origin Inequality, Rousseau critiques the idea of progress, arguing that societal advancements create illusions of improvement while amplifying inequality, fostering dependence, and corrupting human values. He challenges the notion that progress benefits humanity, suggesting instead that it distances people from the natural simplicity and freedom of their origins. Rousseau contrasts the self-sufficiency of early humans with the dependence introduced by societal developments. In the state of nature, individuals lived…