Jean Jacques Rousseau compares and contrast fundamental demand that lead to the development of a civil society while basing foundations of liberty and independence of the human being and their societies. According to him, any man in the society was freely born and universal. A person can belong to any place feeling safe and independent. In ancient societies, people were masters of others. Even though their existed a master- servant relationship, people were equal and enslaved. In most occasions, therefore, people constrained to obey their masters and later shake off (Montesquieu, 1995, pg. 23).
Rousseau‘s article was to investigate and enquire whether there existed a civil order in legitimate governments. “It is my wish to inquire, whether it be possible, within the public order, to discover a legitimate and stable basis of Government (Rousseau, 1950, pg. 38)”. According to him, a civil society based its origin from the primitive ones that existed a long time ago. The oldest form of such a society was a family. In a family, the father raised his son to be mature and independent. “The son eventually returns to the condition of independence, “Rousseau, 1950, pg.47)”
The civil societies moved from father to son or monarch in kinship society and finally the people. On the other hand, such a lineage would move from father to mother in case of differing originality to child and eventually the colony. A child becomes independent just after attaining the age of maturity. “As soon as a man reaches the age of reason he becomes his master (Rousseau, 1950, pg.46)”. This argument was again vague or metaphoric since no human is a slave, and it is not his or her nature to be enslaved.
In conclusion, leaders had a role in shaping and protecting the society. Sometimes if a fight occurs between two countries, the solving ruler should protect his people to avoid the being a slave “is something that occurs not between man and man, but between States (Rousseau, 1950, pg. 38).” According to Rousseau, a ruler had citizens a duty and the whole country as well. Being a ruler implied loyalty and respect to governing the people (Rousseau, 1950, pg. 38).
Work cited
Rousseau, Jean-Jacques, and G D. H. Cole. The Social Contract: And Discourses. New York: E.P. Dutton and Company, Inc, 1950
Montesquieu, Charles S, Thomas Nugent, J V. Prichard, G D. H. Cole, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. The Spirit of Laws. Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica, 1995
