The Canon Library
Cover of The Social Contract

Enlightenment · Political philosophy

The Social Contract

by Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Rousseau asks how people can remain free under political authority and locates sovereignty in the collective general will.

Date
1762
Origin
Geneva / France
Era
Enlightenment
Genre
Political philosophy
Difficulty
Challenging
Length
Medium
Collection
The Western Canon

Subjects and themes

FreedomSovereigntyGeneral Will

Why it matters

Rousseau asks how people can remain free under political authority and locates sovereignty in the collective general will.

This work is included in the collection on the basis of great books. Its cataloged influence level is 5 out of 5.

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A guided argument about authority, liberty, equality, rights, and democratic life. 10 books · Advanced.