This book offers a definitive exploration of Jean-Jacques Rousseau's enduring paradox: how can humans be both naturally free and yet bound by the laws of society? Delving deep into Rousseau's groundbreaking works—the Discourse on Inequality and The Social Contract—it unpacks his radical critique of social and political inequality and his visionary redefinition of legitimate authority through the concept of the general will. Blending rigorous historical analysis, philosophical interpretation, and rich contextual detail, the book reveals how Rousseau's ideas challenged the foundations of monarchy, aristocracy, and servitude, inspiring revolutions and reshaping modern democracy.

From the origins of natural freedom to the birth of civil society, from the corrosive forces of faction and corruption to the promise of republican liberty grounded in active political participation, this volume illuminates Rousseau's complex dialectic of freedom and constraint. It also traces the lasting influence of his thought on contemporary debates about citizenship, justice, and the nature of political power.