Jean-Jacques Rousseau: On the Social Contract (1755) — Book 1

Censored in its own time, Jean-Jacques Rousseau's The Social Contract (1762) lays out one of the most influential political theories of the Enlightenment and remains a key source of democratic belief. Arguing that legitimate political authority arises not from divine right but from a social agreement among free individuals, Rousseau proposes that sovereignty belongs to the people alone. His famous declaration — "Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains" — captures the book’s central tension between natural liberty and the constraints of society. With its radical vision of collective self-rule and the "general will," this foundational work helped shape modern democracy and inspired revolutionary movements across the world.

"Man was born free, but everywhere he is in chains. This man believes that he is the master of others, and still he is more of a slave than they are. How did that transformation take place? I don't know. How may the restraints on man become legitimate? I do believe I can answer that question…"

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At this meeting we will begin a discussion of On the Social Contract, which is the culmination of Rousseau's work in the realm of political philosophy. We'll be discussing only Book 1, which is about 10 pages, and so, if anyone wanted to briefly comment on Montaigne's On Solitude before we turn to the Rousseau, we should sufficient time.

Please read Book 1 of On the Social Contract (10 pages) before the meeting.

Rousseau wrote on a wide variety of subjects, but the group will first delve into his political theory. And, while the group will concentrate on Rousseau, we may also take a look at other writers of the French Enlightenment; i.e. Montesquieu, Diderot, and, although he was a bit earlier, Montaigne.

This is the translation of the Rousseau we will be using in the meetings: https://annas-archive.org/md5/9c70d9441bf70f896c87a1ccd668c0bd