Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Jean-Jacques Rousseau is famously known for saying, “Man is born free and everywhere he is in chains.” When Rousseau says this, he is referring to the continuous cycle of man being fully capable of free will and yet he is born into whatever circumstance he finds himself in, whether that be fortunate or unfortunate. Man is therefore either handcuffed by his limits or given a liberty to reach goals he may have, freely. Rousseau’s observance is applicable to man and his relationship to society across the timeline of history and the current state of this post-modern world is no exception. In today’s world, these chains that man is bound by have been highlighted and posted for the world to see. Now, more than ever, we are more aware of the unfairness …show more content…
However, as time has gone on, his equal society now is no longer limited to the white man but extends to the men and women of minority as well. It is known that racism is not an unhappy accident brought on by Western ideals. And we claim that this racism is superficial, that it does not go all the way down into our history, and yet it does. Across the Western world, this social issue represents a hole in the structure of our system that demands attention. Rousseau’s social contract theory spoke of a very specific kind of person, which was the first stepping stone to a world that is more and more inclusive to different people. As we see movements emerging advocating for the right to speech and the stop of hate crimes, this signifies that the society is moving forward. Now there exists these milestones being achieved to right wrongs and build a multi-racial society. There are now grants and scholarships specified for those in racial minority groups, which exist to allow people in these designated groups an opportunity for recognition of their skills which may otherwise goes …show more content…
Nowadays, those considered “disabled” are also seen as persons and given inclusion into our society. In most public spaces, there are now elevators and ramps which make it easier for people with physical limitations to reach these destinations. There are also now specialized programs and schools which cater to people with physical, mental and developmental needs and this kind of assistance allows for people living with a disability to live a full life and be integrated into society. Even smaller changes such as specialized seating on public transport make a big difference In Rousseau’s time, there were implied specifications about who was considered a person and therefore, allowed to take part in the social contract. As time has progressed and society has advanced socially, technologically and economically, the idea of a society has grown large and now extends to include many different groups of people. When we understand that those coming from different places and backgrounds are as deserving and capable of moving upwards, this makes room for an encouragement to them and a likely cooperation to formulate a system that is beneficial to