Philosophy Class Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Philosophy Class - Essay Example Jean-Jacques Rousseau was a remarkable personality in philosophical field. His contributions are praise worthy so far as philosophical approach is concerned. He also produced a monumental masterpiece in philosophical arena named THE SOCIAL CONTRACT. This is, in fact, a treatise on Principles of Political Right. He started this book with famous words â€Å"Man is born free and everywhere he is in chains; One thinks himself the master of others, and still remains a greater slave than they† (Rousseau et al. 1). Within no time, this volume marked its existence as the most significant exertion of political values in the western practice. Further, he has also made an endeavor to theorize about the ways and means to set up a political community when commercial society is at variance with it. In this pretext, he asserted that in the inception man was without morals and laws. There was an unruly public. People left this wayward society for the necessity of cooperation. According to him, if man joins together and develops a bond of community and forgets claims of natural right, he can preserve himself as well as remain free whereas in primitive society state of nature mad man prone to frequent competition by his fellow beings. In this way their freedom, liberty and safety is at stake. His deeply believed that direct rule of the people as a whole in lawmaking can ensure liberty so, citizens must evolve code of conduct collectively, for their survival and liberty. These rules may perhaps be altered at afterward occasions if need be. He categorically asserts that a citizen is fundamental individual in making a general will a popular sovereignty. To achieve popular sovereignty which is rule of law in actuality, he must put aside his egoist temperament which he has by birth and by nature and think of collective benefit and survival. Moreover, his egoism would