On the Origin of Inequality

Exploring the origins of societal inequality, this influential 18th-century philosophical work argues that concepts of race, class, and wealth emerged with the advent of agriculture and urban society, rather than being inherent to humanity. Rousseau critiques the violence of the powerful and the oppression of the weak, prompting debate on the nature of civilization. His ideas significantly impacted the French Revolution and modern political thought, making him a key figure of the Enlightenment.