Rousseau's Discourse On The Origin Of Inequality

In the Discourse on the Origin of Inequality, Rousseau holds that the institution of private property has corrupted human nature and humanity, such that, man, whose incipient nature is pure and inclined to goodness and compassion, eventually degenerates to displaying traits of deceit, cunning and trickery (Rousseau, 2008, 159). However, it is this author’s contention that Rousseau fails to account for any of the possible positives and advantages which arose out of the institution of private property. Rousseau begins by discussing his view of primitive man, whose existence is defined by a state of nature prior to the development of civil society: primitive man would have simple needs, would display a natural instinct for his own self-preservation, as well as a natural aversion toward the suffering of other men and creatures (ibid, 154). In Rousseau's view, primitive man does not associate with others, is motivated by sheer instinct, and the natural
With these advances came the discovery of iron and wheat, the cultivation of land, the acquisition and division of property, and, finally, to the establishment of laws surrounding private property (ibid, 158). “The true founder of civil society was the first man, who, having enclosed a piece of land, thought of saying ‘This is mine,' and came across people simple enough to believe him” (ibid, 154). As man began to acquire private property and personal possessions, the necessity to protect such property arose. Rousseau's summation of human development ultimately led to his contention that the state's primary function is the protection of private property, without which, man would have no need for the state. As Rousseau remarks, “the recognition of property led to the first rules of justice” (ibid,