Read the pdf and ppt files to answer the questions. Requirements are essay format, double-spaced, 12-point font. Homework will use turnitin, so avoid duplication rates
”On the origins and foundations of the inequality of man” ”On the origins and foundations of the inequality of man” By: Jean-Jacques rousseau (1755) Who was Jean-Jacques Rousseau and why did he write this essay? Swiss-French philosopher, writer and moralist His work influenced the French Enlightenment and Revolution What was the ENLIGHTENMENT you ask? He was asked by the Univ. of Dijon to comment about how societies become “unequal” He believes there are two kinds of inequality Natural / Physical Moral / Political / Financial Man in nature “Savage” man – perceiving and feeling are his first states” = brain/rationality “When I see man in nature, I see him satisfying his hunger under an oak tree, quenching his thirst at the stream, finding his bed at the foot of the tree that supplied his meal..” MAN IS CONTENT IN NATURE ! Nature is Uncorrupted “.. What kind of misery can there be for a free being whose heart is at peace and whose body in good health. I ask you which of the two, civilized or natural life, is more likely to become insufferable to those who live in it?” “Savage man never had any idea of ‘mine’ “ Unlike Locke, Rousseau believed that the introduction of property made man greedy: “Man was born free. Everywhere else he is in chains.” “The first person to enclose a plot of land decided to say ‘this is MINE.. He was the foul founder of ‘civil’ society!” “Imagine the wars, conflict and death that could have been avoided if someone had said ‘do not listen to this imposter.. Do not forget the fruits of the Earth belong to all and the Earth to none. Rousseau debunks Hobbes – Man is naturally COMPASSIONATE ”Contrary to Hobbes, Man has PITY. He feels repugnance at seeing his fellow man suffer.” “In Nature, Pity takes the places of laws and mores and no one is tempted to disobey its sweet voice.” “NATURE, IN GIVING MAN TEARS, GAVE THE HUMAN RACE THE SOFTEST OF HEARTS.” “Reason, alone, engenders EGO, which is INEQUALITY” Modern, “civil” society creates COMPETITION in Man Man must keep up or perish “Competition created hierarchies “Some sang better, danced ‘the best’, who is the ‘strongest’ (at what I ask?)…. We cherished the most popular…… this was the first step toward INEQUALITY. Civil society results in “some enlarging themselves at the expense of others.” A Nation’s Social Responsibility to Its People “The Social Contract finds a middle position between our primitive state and …our ego.” “Alas, We must unite in order to protect the weak from oppression, restrain the ambitious and assure everyone of possessing what belongs to him.. Let us gather them into ONE Supreme Being that governs according to the wise laws that Protects and Defends all.” Finally, once you have digested all of the above, give some good thought to, analyze and integrate the following into a comprehensive 3-4 page essay: 1. Who was Jean-Jacques Rousseau and when did he write these two pieces? How did that effect his writing and impressions? 2. Who was Man to Rousseau? Please give examples from both the "Discourses" and "Social Contract". How is Rousseau's man the same and different from that of Hobbes and Locke? · For instance, look closely at Rousseau's quote that "Nature in giving Man tears gave him the most tender of hearts". What did he mean by this? And how does this differ from our other authors? 3. What was nature to Rousseau? And, what is the problem with man according to Rousseau? Again, how is this different from Hobbes and Locke's assessments? 4. What is Rousseau's solution to man's problem? There are some great quotes in these pieces that highlight his positions. Most notably, just like Locke, he believes in man's ability to govern himself, but - unlike Locke- Rousseau's approach is much more community oriented. Please take a look at that aspect. 5. Finally, please research the Democratic-led Build Back Better bill recently passed in the U.S. Senate and House and signed by President Biden, which is over $2 trillion, 10-year allocation of federal resources, aiming historic sums at family support, health and education programs and an aggressive drive to heal the climate. Where, specifically, do you see Rousseau in this effort? Who might be Rousseau-ites in the US Senate? Please make certain to use proper footnotes/ in-text notes (including page numbers where quotes, data and information was taken from), and provide a proper bibliography! As always, let me know if you have any questions.