ROUSSEAU, DISCOURSE ON ORIGIN OF INEQUALITY
How does Rousseau deal with
earlier versions of “nature:?
(eg state of nature, laws of nature, natural law, etc)
What
is Rousseau’s version of the “state of nature”?
How does
Rousseau think of the individual prior to society?
How does Rousseau respond
to Hobbes’ view of individual in state of nature?
Do they have any points in common?
Where does Rousseau differ from Hobbes?
What is Rousseau’s understanding
of human nature?
Note his ideas of compassion, pity and sympathy.
How does man differ from the animals?
On inequality:
What is the different between natural inequality and political inequality?
Why is this distinction important?
How does civil society come
about after the state of nature?
What is the “happiest epoch” in this evolution?
What is the problem with “comparison:?
What leads man out of this
happiest state?
What is the advantage, if any, of living in a civilized society?
How is the “yoke of servitude” imposed?
What is Rousseau’s view of property as compared with Locke’s?
What are the political consequences of property?
How does Rousseau differ
from both Locke and Hobbes in his understanding of the social contract?
(see selections from Social Contract in Jacob, Enlightenment)