POLI SCI 201 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Tyrant
18 Oct 2016
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Born in geneva but lived many years in france. Wrote discourse on the sciences and arts (first discourse) in 1750. Wrote discourse on the origina of inequality (second discourse) in 1754 both discourses were inspired by an essay contest. It is not so much the understanding that constitutes the specific difference between man and the other animals, as it is his property of being a free agent. Nature commands every animals, and the beast obeys. Man experiences the same impression, but he recognizes himself free to acquiesce or to resist; and it is mainly in the consciousness of this freedom that the spirituality of his soul exhibits itself. (rousseau, origins of inequality, 25) Humans are different from animals due to free will and self perfection. In the state of nature there are no families, language, tools, or useful things. Humans in the state of nature are interested in self preservation but are not naturally aggressive.
