... reader. Rousseau is adamant about the faults in a society that lives in a state of nature. In this state of nature, man is only a "stupid animal" whose existence is one of instinct and necessity for his own self interest and survival. In this state, man does have natural liberty to take anything he desires assuming he is the strongest. But when living in a civil state ... believes that the state of nature will not work out and the civil state is a superior alternative. A civil state is superior because it "substitutes justice for instinct in man's behavior." (pg 69) There is an agreemen...

• Word Count: 1245
• Approx Pages: 5

... , rooted in the state of nature, and acquire the civil freedom that entails this mode of moral and rational thinking, or allows one to be fully human. In the state of nature, says Rousseau, "man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains" (Book I: I 169). The Social Contract is meant to unfetter each individual, each irrational "animal," and help man to fully know his ... freedom by using self-control and by signing himself over to the civil state: to the communal movement towards the common good ... whole body injures the members. The transition of humankind from a state of nature to...

• Word Count: 7114
• Approx Pages: 28
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... , rooted in the state of nature, and acquire the civil freedom that entails this mode of moral and rational thinking, or allows one to be fully human. In the state of nature, says Rousseau, "man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains" (Book I: I 169). The Social Contract is meant to unfetter each individual, each irrational "animal," and help man to fully know his ... freedom by using self-control and by signing himself over to the civil state: to the communal movement towards the common good ... whole body injures the members. The transition of humankind from a state of nature to...

• Word Count: 7115
• Approx Pages: 28
• Grade Level: Undergraduate