![]() ![]() ![]() In his quest to determine what makes political authority legitimate, the first option Rousseau considers is that rulers are simply superior to their subjects by nature. The key message here is: States are only legitimate when citizens freely consent to live in them. What he wanted to know was: what exactly gives rulers the right to limit the freedom of their subjects? Or, in other words: when is living in society actually worth it for the people being ruled? This is the problem Rousseau had in mind when he undertook to write The Social Contract. So, from the point of view of the average person, living in society might seem like a pretty raw deal. But, alas, as is too frequently the case, laws serve mainly just to reinforce the position of the rich and powerful at the expense of everybody else. ![]() Now, restrictions on human freedom might be justified if it means people receive some benefit from society in return. ![]() The “chains” he refers to are the laws and conventions enforced on people by society, which restrict their freedom. Just like that, Rousseau condemned the Europe of his day. “Man is born free, but he is everywhere in chains.” Few books open with a more memorable line than The Social Contract. ![]()
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