Rousseau's Paradox: Natural Freedom versus Civil Tradition

This book offers a definitive exploration of Jean-Jacques Rousseau's enduring paradox: how can humans be both naturally free and yet bound by the laws of society? Delving deep into Rousseau's groundbreaking works—the Discourse on Inequality and The Social Contract—it unpacks his radical critique of social and political inequality and his visionary redefinition of legitimate authority through the concept of the general will. Blending rigorous historical analysis, philosophical interpretation...