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[[Image:T768.jpg|right|thumb|Jean Jacques Rousseau]]

[[Image:T768.jpg|right|thumb|Jean Jacques Rousseau]]

Swiss-born political [[philosopher]] '''Jean Jacques Rousseau''' (1712-1778) was an influential French essayist, prominent [[liberal]] social theorist and a leading [[Enlightenment]] thinker.  He argued that political and moral discourses could not be separated, and that the will of the majority was not always correct. However, Rousseau also critiqued the legitimacy of [[private property]], and laid the groundwork for future political/social theorists such as [[Karl Marx]].  Rousseau declared that government's goal should be to provide freedom, equality and justice but noted that freedom often results in inequality.

Swiss-born political [[philosopher]] '''Jean Jacques Rousseau''' (1712-1778) was an influential French essayist, prominent [[liberal]] social theorist and a leading [[Enlightenment]] thinker.  He argued that political and moral discourses could not be separated, and that the will of the majority was not always correct. Rousseau also critiqued the legitimacy of [[private property]], and laid the groundwork for future political/social theorists such as [[Karl Marx]].  Rousseau declared that government's goal should be to provide freedom, equality and justice but noted that freedom often results in inequality.

Rousseau's most famous work was ''The Social Contract'' (1762), which supported a direct [[democracy]] based on a "general will" rather than [[republicanism]] such as that adopted 25 years later by the [[U.S. Constitution]].  In it, he further developed the concept of the "[[social contract]]" established by [[Thomas Hobbes]] and [[John Locke]].  Rousseau disapproved of categorical distinctions between social groups. He argued that a liberal conception of human equality should be the basis for human relationships.

Rousseau's most famous work was ''The Social Contract'' (1762), which supported a direct [[democracy]] based on a "general will" rather than [[republicanism]] such as that adopted 25 years later by the [[U.S. Constitution]].  In it, he further developed the concept of the "[[social contract]]" established by [[Thomas Hobbes]] and [[John Locke]].  Rousseau disapproved of categorical distinctions between social groups. He argued that a liberal conception of human equality should be the basis for human relationships.