Book Description:
Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s The Social Contract (1762) is a revolutionary treatise on political philosophy and the foundations of legitimate government. Declaring that “Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains,” Rousseau argues that society must be founded on a social agreement in which individuals collectively surrender some freedoms in exchange for civil liberty and the common good.
In this compact yet radical work, Rousseau envisions a form of direct democracy guided by the “general will,” where sovereignty lies with the people and rulers are accountable to those they govern. His ideas challenged monarchic rule and inspired key movements in the Enlightenment, the French Revolution, and the evolution of modern democratic theory.
Both visionary and controversial, The Social Contract remains essential reading for anyone interested in political ethics, civil society, and the enduring question of how freedom can coexist with authority.
