A More Just Society

Paper Summary:

The paper reviews and critiques Rousseau's "Social Contract," and his "Discourse on Inequality" and discusses the practicality of his philosophy. The paper explains Rousseau's ideas of what constitutes a more just society. The paper is of the opinion that the "Social Contract" and the "Discourse on Inequality" are brilliantly thought out narratives and asserts that more governments should study and adopt them for the good of their citizens.

Outline:
Are Rousseau's Ideas Desirable?
Is Rousseau a Nihilist?
How About the Fact that Rousseau Goes Back Against His Own Writings?
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"When Jean Jacques Rousseau began his Discourse - "What is the Origin of Inequality Among Men, and is it Authorised by Natural Law?" - by calling attention to the fact that he considered his "Sovereign Lords" "honourable" and "magnificent," was he using charm to get attention? Was he "buttering them up" - those who would be reading his tome - in the hopes that his arguments would be more persuasive? No, and no. Those "Sovereign Lords" Rousseau spoke of were not the political or religious powers of his day in France, but rather, the citizens. The ordinary people who could read and write and think."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Damrosch, Leo. (2005). Jean-Jacques Rousseau: Restless Genius. New York: Houghton MifflinCompany.
• Green, F. C. (1955). Jean-Jacques Rousseau: A Critical Study of His Life and Writings.Cambridge, England: Cambridge at the University Press.
• Rousseau, Jean Jacques. (1754). A Discourse on a Subject Proposed by the Academy of Dijon:What is the Origin of Inequality Among Men, and is it Authorised by Natural Law? Retrieved1 Dec. 2006, from http://www.constitution.org/jjr/ineq_01.htm.
• Rousseau, Jean Jacques. (1763). The Social Contract. Retrieved 30 Nov. 2006 fromhttp://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/Rousseau-saccon.html.
• Wokler, Robert. (1995). Rousseau. New York: Oxford University Press.

More papers on A More Just Society:

• Essay # 44964 : "A Just Society"
• Essay # 73010 : "Historical Materialism and a Just Society"
• Analytical Essay # 8783 : "Just-In-Time Manufacturing"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: