Rousseau’s philosophical reflection on human nature

Abstract

Rousseau emphasized more strongly the peaceful, pleasant, idyllic condition of man in this natural state. Rousseau has emphasized the happiness which men enjoyed when everyone was free and equal and nature provided abundant nourishment for all. Rousseau then proceeded to contrast his early blissful state with the inequality, the oppression, the poverty which is common in political state. According to Rousseau by nature man scarcely thinks. With a growth of reason, the degeneration goes so far that it necessitated the constitution of civil society. And 'back to nature is his cry. This does not mean that society must be destroyed and the savage state to be resumed, but it means that nature must be the rule for men in society. When Rousse au recommends the rule of nature for men it becomes quite obvious that according to him reason and philosophy have deluded men and brought them to ruin.