Jean-Jacques Rousseau - Discurso sobre a Origem e os Fundamentos da Desigualdade Entre os Homens

In this brilliant and revolutionary speech that has influenced all political and social thought produced since then, Rousseau explores the factors that contribute to the unjust and destabilizing inequality among men. Published in 1755, anticipating the upheaval of the French Revolution, the philosopher discusses the nature of man and points to the institution of private property and the conflict with the natural world imposed by civilization as corruptors of primordial happiness and freedom.

Arguing that primitive man would be in a position of equality in relation to his peers, enjoying a freedom and happiness that would be intrinsic to him, Rousseau denounced the growing civilizational sophistication, with its artificial institutions of wealth, power and privilege, as the main cause of an irreparable imbalance in Humanity, attributing a disproportionate advantage to the strongest over the weakest and thus fueling injustices and conflicts. The target of harsh criticism and also passionate defenses at the time, this speech would become a classic of political philosophy and remains, today as then, as relevant as it is controversial.