This lecture delves into Rousseau's *Second Discourse*, focusing on the roots and validity of inequality. Rousseau contends that inequality doesn't stem from our nature as humans but rather from advancements in technology, like metallurgy and agriculture, which heighten our “amour propre”—the yearning for recognition and status. This heightened desire drives competition and domination, ultimately reinforcing inequality through state structures. While Rousseau recognizes that this inequality can lead to progress and power, he advocates for a society that values well-being over ambition, even if that requires sacrificing greatness. Interestingly, this vision may depend on the existence of other, less just societies.
