# A Discourse Upon the Origin and the Foundation of the Inequality Among Mankind

**Author:** Jean-Jacques Rousseau
**Tags:** Political science, Natural law, Equality
**Price:** Free
**Formats:** DOCX, EPUB, FB2, PDF, TXT
**Downloads:** 32
**Added:** 10.07.2026
**URL:** https://samolit.com/books/96125

## Description

Jean-Jacques Rousseau's influential work, A Discourse Upon the Origin and the Foundation of the Inequality Among Mankind, delves into the fundamental question of how disparities arose among people. First published in 1755, this philosophical treatise examines the evolution of humanity from a hypothetical state of nature to organized civil society. Rousseau distinguishes between natural, or physical, inequality—differences in age, strength, or intellect—and moral or political inequality, which stems from societal conventions. He argues that in their natural state, humans were inherently good, free, and self-sufficient, guided by self-preservation and pity. However, the development of private property, agriculture, and complex social structures corrupted this innate goodness, fostering competition, vanity, and dependence on others' opinions. Rousseau contends that civil society, established through a flawed social contract, ultimately serves to legitimize and perpetuate these forms of moral and political inequality, leading to oppression and a departure from humanity's original freedom. This foundational text profoundly questions the legitimacy of authority and the very nature of human progress.