1. Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778)

2. Biography
Enlightenment philosopher, writer, and composer (born in Geneva; worked extensively in Paris).
Ideas influenced the French Revolution.
Orphaned when he was young.
Left home at sixteen and worked as a tutor and musician.
Began literary career in his forties.

3. The Social Contract 1762
A “social contract” is an agreement between authority and people being governed: the governed agree to be ruled only so that their rights, property, and happiness be protected by the rulers.
Allows men to remain free; in submitting to the will of the whole (society) we are guaranteed against submitting to the will of others (individuals).

4. The Social Contract 1762
To Rousseau, the contract is flawed: the wealthy and powerful rulers trick the governed and create inequality.
He argues that the contract needs to be rethought: protect the rights of all instead of the rights of a select few.