Discourse on the Origin of Inequality Among Men

Discourse on the Origin of Inequality Among Men
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
What makes human beings unequal? Is it nature, or society?
In this seminal work of political philosophy, Jean-Jacques Rousseau dares to confront one of the most pressing questions of the Enlightenment: how the progress of civilization has shaped, and corrupted, the human condition. First published in 1755, Rousseau’s Discourse presents a sweeping meditation on humanity’s passage from the innocence of the “state of nature” to the complexities of social life. He argues that while natural inequalities—of strength, age, or intellect—exist, it is society itself that multiplies and entrenches divisions through property, power, and privilege.
Provocative, poetic, and radical in its time, Rousseau’s text would go on to influence generations of thinkers and revolutionaries, from the authors of the French Revolution to modern critics of inequality. This edition offers readers the chance to engage directly with a work that remains as urgent and unsettling today as it was over two centuries ago—a profound reminder that the roots of injustice may lie not in human nature, but in the very structures we have built.
A classic of philosophy and political thought—essential reading for anyone concerned with freedom, equality, and the human spirit.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712–1778) was a Swiss-born philosopher, writer, and composer whose ideas transformed political and social thought in Europe. A central figure of the Enlightenment, he is best known for works such as Discourse on the Origin of Inequality, The Social Contract, and Émile. Rousseau’s reflections on freedom, equality, education, and the corrupting influence of civilization inspired both the French Revolution and modern democratic theory, leaving an enduring legacy as one of the most influential thinkers of modern times.