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The Social Contract (Classics of World Literature) Paperback – March 5, 1998

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 246 ratings
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With an Introduction by Derek Matravers.

In The Social Contract Rousseau (1712-1778) argues for the preservation of individual freedom in political society. An individual can only be free under the law, he says, by voluntarily embracing that law as his own. Hence, being free in society requires each of us to subjugate our desires to the interests of all, the general will.

Some have seen in this the promise of a free and equal relationship between society and the individual, while others have seen it as nothing less than a blueprint for totalitarianism. The Social Contract is not only one of the great defences of civil society, it is also unflinching in its study of the darker side of political systems.

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Previous page
  1. Print length
    160 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Wordsworth Editions
  4. Publication date
    March 5, 1998
  5. Dimensions
    5 x 0.5 x 8 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    9781853267819
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1853267819
  8. Lexile measure
    1370
  9. See all details
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Great Ideas... is the right name for these slim, elegant paperbacks... They are written with precision, force, and care. (The Wall Street Journal) Penguin Books hopes to provide an economical remedy for time-pressed readers in search of intellectual sustenance. --(USA Today)

About the Author

Jean-Jacques Rousseau was a Genevan philosopher, writer, and composer. His political philosophy influenced the progress of the Enlightenment throughout Europe, as well as aspects of the French Revolution and the development of modern political, economic and educational thought. His Discourse on Inequality and The Social Contract are cornerstones in modern political and social thought. Rousseau's sentimental novel Julie, or the New Heloise (1761) was important to the development of preromanticism and romanticism in fiction. His Emile, or On Education (1762) is an educational treatise on the place of the individual in society. Rousseau's autobiographical writings the posthumously published Confessions (composed in 1769), which initiated the modern autobiography, and the unfinished Reveries of the Solitary Walker (composed 1776 1778) exemplified the late-18th-century "Age of Sensibility", and featured an increased focus on subjectivity and introspection that later characterized modern writing. Rousseau befriended fellow philosophy writer Denis Diderot in 1742, and would later write about Diderot's romantic troubles in his Confessions. During the period of the French Revolution, Rousseau was the most popular of the philosophers among members of the Jacobin Club. He was interred as a national hero in the Panthéon in Paris, in 1794, 16 years after his death.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 1853267813
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Wordsworth Editions; New edition (March 5, 1998)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 160 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9781853267819
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1853267819
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 1370
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 0.5 x 8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 246 ratings

About the author

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Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

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Jean-Jacques Rousseau (/ruːˈsoʊ/; French: [ʒɑ̃ʒak ʁuso]; 28 June 1712 – 2 July 1778) was a Francophone Genevan philosopher, writer, and composer of the 18th century. His political philosophy influenced the Enlightenment in France and across Europe, as well as aspects of the French Revolution and the overall development of modern political and educational thought.

Rousseau's novel Emile, or On Education is a treatise on the education of the whole person for citizenship. His sentimental novel Julie, or the New Heloise was of importance to the development of pre-romanticism and romanticism in fiction. Rousseau's autobiographical writings — his Confessions, which initiated the modern autobiography, and his Reveries of a Solitary Walker — exemplified the late 18th-century movement known as the Age of Sensibility, and featured an increased focus on subjectivity and introspection that later characterized modern writing. His Discourse on Inequality and The Social Contract are cornerstones in modern political and social thought.

During the period of the French Revolution, Rousseau was the most popular of the philosophes among members of the Jacobin Club. Rousseau was interred as a national hero in the Panthéon in Paris, in 1794, 16 years after his death.

Bio from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Photo by Maurice Quentin de La Tour [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
246 global ratings

Top review from the United States

dolphi3451
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read
Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2018
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It’s a fun read
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Con
5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 17, 2023
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A great read
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Ali
5.0 out of 5 stars Compact and readable print
Reviewed in Germany on January 9, 2020
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While reviewing a book on Amazon, I have seen people segue from reviewing the physical book and review the content. I would like to just review the book and not its content. The book is excellent and very compact which makes it easy to carry. The print is quite readable. Highly recommended.
One person found this helpful
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L. k
2.0 out of 5 stars very poorly printed, uncomfortable to read
Reviewed in Germany on July 24, 2023
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see attached pictures, It was poorly printed and the paper quality is also not so good, the words are blur and very uncomfortable to read!
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L. k
2.0 out of 5 stars very poorly printed, uncomfortable to read
Reviewed in Germany on July 24, 2023
see attached pictures, It was poorly printed and the paper quality is also not so good, the words are blur and very uncomfortable to read!
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jordan
5.0 out of 5 stars Good
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 7, 2020
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Good
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Carmine
4.0 out of 5 stars Great book, good quality
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 17, 2019
Verified Purchase
This edition of the classic is very good. The translation is spot on, the size of the letters is standard and the book itself is small so very easy to transport with you wherever you go.
About the text, is very easy to read and understand the idea.
I will say is one of the most important books to read if you want to start understanding the basis of society.
3 people found this helpful
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