Customer Reviews

A Discourse on Inequality (Penguin Classics)

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Discourse on Inequality is one of the most shockingly original writings in the history of thought - so original Samuel Johnson famously argued Rousseau could not have been serious, and many, including admirers, have agreed. Its argument that people are born free and pure only to be corrupted by society flies in the proverbial face not only of philosophy but of civilization itself. It was all the more shocking during the Enlightenment, when society, not least via Rousseau's many fellow philosophers, was more self-congratulatory than ever. His depiction of our fall from grace is spellbinding and hard to put down; those who think philosophy is dry and boring will truly be surprised. This is essential for anyone even remotely interested in philosophy, politics, or history.

This is a book I picked up and began reading. It was probably the most
interesting book I have ever read. It was my introduction to the Classic
texts and remains my favorite.

A historic document with still validity in our days, where many of the reasons appointed by Rousseau as the causes of the inequality between men, are deeply felt today in our societies.
Sure, the limitations of the scientific knowledge at the time (1757), coupled with the intransigence of the Catholic dogmas in what regards some possible evolutionary view, restricts in great measure the range of Rousseaus' thought. In Rousseau's view, these inequalities should be ascribed to the modern spirit of emulation, which distorts the primeval feeling of self-fulfillment found on the very primitive societies of yesterday, where there was happiness among its members, thus turning human happiness today and at the time of Rousseau as a function of one's attainement vis-à-vis the other's, which is something very conspicous in our lives of today, where we seem to live totally in function of prescribed standards of comsumption and leisure. A necessary reading for the student of the social facts.

Excellent discourse. This book discusses some of the rudiments of the history of inequality and how its self supporting and ever existing in human nature. I recommend this book for those readers who either want to increase their knowledge on Jean-Jacques Rousseau or historical development of inequality

For those who want to further their command over Rousseau's life- I suggest them to read 'Confessions' by Rousseau.

I bought a few by Rousseau and was excited to get into this one. I was sort of disappointed.

2/3 of the book is based on socio/anthropology. We have learned a lot since the 1750's.

I also found the text and sentences difficult to follow for any period of time. This is odd because this work is known to be "so readable".

We seem to come to the conclusion that society is the fundamental problem of man but also necessary?

Maybe I am just sick of fighting with so many anarchists, libertarians and free-state whackos these last few weeks.

I will give this a more relaxed read in the future.

this is a classic worth reading written by the philosopher, rousseau. i was a little surprised with his approach / maybe expecting a 21st century we are all really equal. while equality is suggested, it reflects the writer and his times (for example, the belief, "what? a woman can think as well as me?") kind of thinking. he discusses selections, particularly from western culture and experience, of the history and natural or biological basis of various inequalities. brilliant logic. A-, it comes recommended for individuals who want to read about inequality. since it's so inexpensive on kindle, i recommend your looking through this if you have a kindle. if not, i'd probably just read more recent treatises on equality from the 20th and 21st century that adequately summarize this piece.

"I have received your new book against the human race, and thank you for it. Never was such cleverness used in the design of making us all stupid. One longs, in reading your book, to walk on all fours. But as I have lost that habit for more than sixty years, I feel unhappily the impossibility of resuming it. Nor can I embark in search of the savages of Canada, because the maladies to which I am condemned render a European surgeon necessary to me; because war is going on in those regions; and because the example of our actions has made the savages nearly as bad as ourselves." Voltaire (1755)