Rousseau: Freedom, Society, and the Corruption of Man

Jean-Jacques Rousseau believed we are born free, but everywhere find ourselves in chains. In this session, we’ll examine Rousseau’s provocative argument that society corrupts our natural goodness, and that our sense of self — even our desires — are shaped by others. How should we live together without becoming inauthentic? And what kind of education, or politics, might restore our lost freedom?

Suggested Reading: Discourse on the Origin of Inequality (Preface + Part One) by Jean-Jacques Rousseau