Cordova 1

Carlos Cordova

Professor Childress

GOVT 2305.83701

18 July 2022

“Discourse on the Origin of Inequality Among Men”

Social inequality is manifested in a different or discriminatory treatment towards people

for having any of the characteristics above. In this sense, it can be positive when it benefits the

individual or harmful when it harms their rights. The discourse on the origin of inequality

between men is a treatise on human nature in civil society. The author inquiries about what

separates people from people and how those inequalities originated in the first place. Then, he

explores the origins of inequality among men.

"The first man who, having enclosed a piece of ground, bethought himself of saying This

is mine, and found people simple enough to believe him, was the real founder of civil society.

From how many crimes, wars, and murders, from how many horrors and misfortunes might not

anyone have saved humankind by pulling up the stakes, or filling up the ditch, and crying to his

fellows, "Beware of listening to this impostor; you are undone if you once forget that the fruits of

the earth belong to us all, and the earth itself to nobody." (Rousseau). This is property, a theft

that created and institutionalized inequality among men. Work, and the oppression that results, is

a consequence of ownership. In this context, Rousseau explains the significant phases of

technological change (metallurgy and agriculture) and their influence on human psychology.

Marital love, cooperation, and, in particular, the establishment of gender roles (which subjects

women to men) are sources of inequality. At this stage, if the natural man is being governed by
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necessity, the civilized man of leisure lives in cooperation, and the division of labor frees time

from him. The arts thrive, of course, but human relationships are now based on interest rather

than pity.

According to Rousseau, man is born free and in chains everywhere. He establishes social

classes and conflicts between rich and poor because the owner acts as if the workers own him.

One solution to the property conflict is creating a contract proposed by wealthy people to the

poor to form political associations. Poor people trust that they will be free and safe if they accept

the creation of political culture to preserve their freedom. The following shows that although the

poor man thinks he is free from all conflict, he is submerged in a contract that could bring more

competition in the future. In other words, rich people constitute an Aristocracy.

Work Cited

Wikisource. 26 Dec. 2004,

en.wikisource.org/wiki/Discourse_on_the_Origin_of_Inequality_Among_Men/Part_II.

Accessed 19 July 2022.