Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s Discourse on Inequality and its Impact on Modern Western Society

The famous French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau has undoubtedly left his mark on history and heavily influenced numerous governments over the last two hundred years. Rousseau’s “Discourse on Inequality”, in particular, changed the way in which individuals view society, religion, and morality in a significant manner. The worldview which is presented in this writing is the product of years of abandonment, sexual promiscuity, and a lack of personal responsibility. The real-world implications of which have led to the deaths of millions upon millions in one of the bloodiest centuries in all of human history and inspired some of modern history’s most evil figures such as Karl Marx and Joseph Stalin. As the United States is seeing rising popularity in recent years of the ideas of Rousseau, it is no wonder why there has been great concern over the future that this may spell for the nation. The success of America’s founding and the failures of those who adhered to Rousseau’s theories should serve as a warning sign for those considering going down the same disastrous path we’ve seen play over time and time again