The Social Contract

In 'The Social Contract', Jean-Jacques Rousseau outlines a theory of government where the legitimacy of political authority stems from the consent of the governed.

The book begins with the famous line 'Man is born free, but he is everywhere in chains,' highlighting the tension between natural freedom and the constraints of societal laws.

Rousseau argues that a legitimate state is formed when citizens enter into a social contract, surrendering some of their natural rights in exchange for civil rights and the protection of the general will.

The general will, a collective idea of the common good, is central to Rousseau's theory, and he advocates for a system where the people, as the sovereign, make decisions directly and where laws ensure liberty and equality.

The work has been influential in shaping modern political thought and has played a significant role in the French Revolution and the development of democratic principles.