Jean Jacques Rousseau’s concept of freedom and equality in the Social Contract

Authors

  • Trang Do Thi Thuy Van Lang University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/0101-3173.2023.v46n2.p305

Keywords:

Civil society, Equality, Freedom, Rousseau, The social contract, The state of nature

Abstract

One of the common characteristics of early modern Western European philosophers is the emphasis on freedom and equality. Philosophers of this period looked for answers to “what is freedom and equality?” and realized freedom and equality into fundamental human rights. From John Locke to Montesquieu and Jean Jacques Rousseau, all consider freedom and equality as natural rights of human beings. Rousseau’s concept of freedom and equality is reflected in The Social Contract. At the beginning of this work, he commented with a famous opening line, “Man is born free, but is everywhere in chains.” That is the fundamental argument to give a unique view of freedom and equality. Within the scope of the article, the author focuses on analyzing his views on freedom and equality in many different aspects – freedom and equality in the state of nature, freedom and equality in civil society, and how to achieve freedom and equality – thereby presenting the values and limitations of his views on freedom and equality.

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Author Biography

  • Trang Do Thi Thuy, Van Lang University

    Van Lang University, Ho Chi Minh City – Vietnam. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4871-1368

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Received: 10/03/2022

Approved: 24/08/2022

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Published

2023-03-23

Issue

Vol. 46 No. 2 (2023): April-June/2023

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DO THI THUY, Trang. Jean Jacques Rousseau’s concept of freedom and equality in the Social Contract. Trans/Form/Ação, Marília, SP, v. 46, n. 2, p. 305–324, 2023. DOI: 10.1590/0101-3173.2023.v46n2.p305. Disponível em: https://revistas.marilia.unesp.br/index.php/transformacao/article/view/13104.. Acesso em: 21 nov. 2024.