The Social Contract — cover

The Social Contract

Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Man is born free but everywhere in chains — the philosophical basis for modern democracy.

Why this book matters

The book that helped ignite the French Revolution and plant the seeds of modern democracy — Rousseau's Social Contract remains one of the most dangerous ideas ever published.

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The Social Contract
Jean-Jacques Rousseau · Chapter I: Subject Of The First Book
Free Audiobook · Chapter I: Subject Of The First Book 0:00 / —

CHAPTER I SUBJECT OF THE FIRST BOOK Man is born free; and everywhere he is in chains. One thinks himself the master of others, and still remains a greater slave than they. How did this change come about? I do not know. What can make it legitimate? That…

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Table of contents

  1. Chapter I: Subject Of The First BookFree
  2. Chapter II: The First SocietiesFree
  3. Chapter III: The Right Of The StrongestFree
  4. Chapter IV: SlaveryFree
  5. Chapter V: That We Must Always Go Back To A First ConventionFree
  6. Chapter VI: The Social CompactFree
  7. Chapter VII: The SovereignFree
  8. Chapter VIII: The CIVIL StateFree
  9. Chapter IX: Real PropertyFree
  10. Chapter I: That Sovereignty Is InalienableFree
  11. Chapter II: That Sovereignty Is IndivisibleFree
  12. Chapter III: Whether The General Will Is FallibleFree
  13. Chapter IV: The Limits Of The Sovereign PowerFree
  14. Chapter V: The Right Of Life And DeathFree
  15. Chapter VI: LawFree
  16. Chapter VII: The LegislatorFree
  17. Chapter VIII: The PeopleFree
  18. CHAPTER IX: THE PEOPLE (_continued_)Free
  19. CHAPTER X: THE PEOPLE (_continued_)Free
  20. Chapter XI: The Various Systems Of LegislationFree
  21. Chapter XII: The Division Of The LawsFree
  22. Chapter I: Government In GeneralFree
  23. Chapter IIFree
  24. Chapter III: The Division Of GovernmentsFree
  25. Chapter IV: DemocracyFree
  26. Chapter V: AristocracyFree
  27. Chapter VI: MonarchyFree
  28. Chapter VII: Mixed GovernmentsFree
  29. Chapter VIII: That All Forms Of Government Do Not Suit All CountriesFree
  30. Chapter IX: The Marks Of A Good GovernmentFree
  31. Chapter X: The Abuse Of Government And Its Tendency To DegenerateFree
  32. Chapter XI: The Death Of The Body PoliticFree
  33. Chapter XII: How The Sovereign Authority Maintains ItselfFree
  34. CHAPTER XIII: THE SAME (_continued_)Free
  35. CHAPTER XIV: THE SAME (continued)Free
  36. Chapter XV: Deputies Or RepresentativesFree
  37. Chapter XVI: That The Institution Of Government Is Not A ContractFree
  38. Chapter XVII: The Institution Of GovernmentFree
  39. Chapter XVIII: How To Check The Usurpations Of GovernmentFree
  40. Chapter I: That The General Will Is IndestructibleFree
  41. Chapter II: VotingFree
  42. Chapter III: ElectionsFree
  43. Chapter IV: The Roman ComitiaFree
  44. Chapter V: The TribunateFree
  45. Chapter VI: The DictatorshipFree
  46. Chapter VII: The CensorshipFree
  47. Chapter VIII: CIVIL ReligionFree
  48. Chapter IX: ConclusionFree

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