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Reviews
Discourse on the Origin of Inequality by Franklin Philip, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Patrick Coleman
elhombrenuevo's review against another edition
4.0
In some ways the Discours was a letdown. Much has been made of Rousseau's concept of human nature being vindicated in recent decades by scientific research, but in this work at least his prescience often seems serendipitous: the book lacks rigour even as J.-J. pats himself on the back for his arguments.
Nonetheless, I'm giving it four stars on grounds of its enjoyability and historical importance. Rousseau's style, especially in the original French, is bright and readable; the words quoted are often delightful; its central place in Englightenment and Romanticist thought also makes it fascinating for those interested in these movements.
Most of all, Rousseau understood - ahead of his time - that human nature is contingent on social structures. Though he wrote this more than a century before, say, [b:Capital|325785|Capital, Vol. 1 A Critical Analysis of Capitalist Production|Karl Marx|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348385812l/325785._SY75_.jpg|345846], he greatly anticipates Ricœur's three maîtres du soupçon [masters of suspicion] Marx, Nietzsche and Freud. Though Rousseau reaches unsatisfying conclusions, it's a shame his sceptical instinct wasn't more influential - 250 years on, it's a baseless and cynical ideological framework that dominates.
Nonetheless, I'm giving it four stars on grounds of its enjoyability and historical importance. Rousseau's style, especially in the original French, is bright and readable; the words quoted are often delightful; its central place in Englightenment and Romanticist thought also makes it fascinating for those interested in these movements.
Most of all, Rousseau understood - ahead of his time - that human nature is contingent on social structures. Though he wrote this more than a century before, say, [b:Capital|325785|Capital, Vol. 1 A Critical Analysis of Capitalist Production|Karl Marx|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348385812l/325785._SY75_.jpg|345846], he greatly anticipates Ricœur's three maîtres du soupçon [masters of suspicion] Marx, Nietzsche and Freud. Though Rousseau reaches unsatisfying conclusions, it's a shame his sceptical instinct wasn't more influential - 250 years on, it's a baseless and cynical ideological framework that dominates.
richardpapensympathiser's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
ezcousins's review against another edition
challenging
funny
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
4.0
Structured like crazy but surprisingly easy for a dense philosophical text from that era. The translation I read was written in 1761 and it was by far one of the easiest political philosophies I've read. I'd also recommend it to anyone into Marx
yoleolibros's review against another edition
3.0
Leaving my modern view and sensibilities aside (some serious sexism and all the isms going on this text…), this was an interesting read. I don’t fully agree with the introduction. This work doesn’t speak to evolution in a truly significant way, but I did find Rousseau’s analysis on society, and the development of a property driven economy being at the root of inequality, interesting and foundational.
kristintolentino's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
fast-paced
4.25
ineedtokeepmymouthshut's review against another edition
5.0
Rousseau was actually a pleasure to read, he has a way with words. It is unfortunate he was such a huge sexist