On the Social Contract or. Principles of Political Right, published in 1762, is one of the most important and influential works of political philosophy ever written. In it, Rousseau seeks to explain why, when freedom is the natural state of human beings, they are not in fact free ("Man is born free; and everywhere he is in chains"), and to establish the basis for legitimacy in a political community. He argues for a demo- cratic, consensual form of Zovernment founded on the "general will" free of gross inequality and arbitrary rule.

……

"Man was born free, but everywhere he is in chains. This man believes that he is the master of others, and still be is more of a slave than they are. How did that transformation take place? I don’t know. How may the restraints on man become legitimate? I do believe I can answer that question..."

Thus begins Rousseau’s influential 1762 work, Du Contrat Social. Arguing that all government is fundamentally flawed, and that modern society is based on a system that fosters inequality and servitude, Rousseau demands nothing less than a complete revision of the social contract to ensure equality and freedom.

Noting that government derives its authority by the people’s willing consent (rather than the authorization of God), Rousseau posits that a good government can justify its need for individual compromises, rewarding its citizens with "civil liberty and the proprietorship of all he possesses." The controversial philosopher further suggests that promoting social settings in which people transcend their immediate appetites and desires leads to the development of self-governing, self-disciplined beings.

A milestone of political science, these essays introduced the inflammatory ideas that led to the chaos of the French Revolution, and are considered essential reading for students of history, philosophy, and other social sciences.

Foreword

             BOOK I

  I. Subject of the First Book

 II. The First Societies

III. The Right of the Strongest

 IV. Slavery

  V. That We Must Always Go Back

  to a First Convention

 VI. The Social Compact

VII. The Sovereign

VIII. The Civil State

 IX. Real Property

             BOOK II

  I. That Sovereignty Is Inalienable

 II. That Sovereignty Is Indivisible

III. Whether the General Will Is Fallible

 IV. The Limits of the Sovereign Power

  V. The Right of Life and Death

 VI. Law

VII. The Legislator

VIII. The People

 IX. The People (cont.)

  X. The People (cont.)

 XI. The Various Systems of Legislation

XII. The Division Of the Laws

             BOOK III

  I. Government in General

 II. The Constituent Principle in

  the Various Forms of Government

III. The Division of Governments

 IV. Democracy

  V. Aristocracy

 VI. Monarchy

VII. Mixed Governments

VIII. That All Forms of Government Do Not

  Suit M1 Countries

 IX. The Marks of a Good Government

  X. The Abuse of Government and Its

  Tendency to Degenerate

 XI. The Death of the Body Politic

XII. How the Sovereign Authority Maintains Itself

XIII. The Same (cont.)

XIV. The Same (cont.)

 XV. Deputies or Representatives

XVI. That the Institution of Government

  Is Not a Contract

XVII. The Institution of Government

XVIII. How to Check the Usurpations of Government

              BOOK IV

  I. That the General Will Is Indestructible

 II. Voting

III. Elections

 IV. The Roman Gomitia

  V. The Tribunate

 VI. The Dictatorship

VII. The Gensorship

VIII. Givil Religion

 IX. Conclusion