Of The Social Contract and Other Political Writings

Considers the issues of liberty and law, freedom and justice, arriving at a view of society that has seemed to some a blueprint for totalitarianism, to others a declaration of democratic principles.

''Man was born free, and everywhere he is in chains.''

These are the famous opening words of a treatise that has stirred vigorous debate ever since its first publication in 1762. Rejecting the view that anyone has a natural right to wield authority over others, Rousseau argues instead for a pact, or ''social contract'', that should exist between all the citizens of a state and that should be the source of sovereign power. From this fundamental premise, he goes on to consider issues of liberty and law, freedom and justice, arriving at a view of society that has seemed to some a blueprint for totalitarianism, to others a declaration of democratic principles.

Translated by Quintin Hoare
With a new introduction by Christopher Bertram

• | Author: Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Quintin Hoare, Christopher Bertram
• | Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
• | Publication Date: Oct 04, 2012
• | Number of Pages:
• | Language: eng
• | Binding: Paperback / softback
• | ISBN-13: 9780141191751
• | ISBN-10: 0141191759