On Rousseau’s Thought Of Equality

Equality is a heatedly discussed issue in the research of modern political philosophy. Rousseau’s theory concerning sense of equality in modern society has gained epoch-making significance. Based on human nature, Rousseau has shown us the developmental process from inequality to equality in human society by criticizing the origin of inequality of natural law in modern countries. Meanwhile, based on this, he tried to utilize "general will" to break the state of inequality in modern society. He used contract to give each and every member of the society a social identity and establish relatively equal social relationship.Rousseau’s theory and discussion on the issue of equality has an enlightening significance on the study of political philosophy later. Sabine believes that Rousseau’s "rediscovery of society" opened up a brand-new social theoretical tradition concerning Hegel and Marx. Meanwhile, Leo Strauss pointed out in his books Three trends of Modernism and Rousseau:The Turning Scene that Rousseau is the first thinker who reflects modernism from its inside. Rousseau’s criticism upon inequality and his united thought on society constitute important philosophical conscious and theoretical hypnosis of Marx.Thus, this paper intends to observe and demonstrate the core issues of Rousseau’s conception of equality. It also intends to explore the inherent relationship between Rousseau and Marx as well as Marx’s resolution on this issue by utilizing Marx’s historical materialism. This paper has three major parts:In the first part, the sense of equality of modern political philosophers are discussed and compared. It contains philosophers and thinkers in ancient Greek, Medieval times and modern times, utopian socialists as well as Marx. This part traces the development of the history of philosophy and presents the inherent relationship of Rousseau’s equality and its status and values among modern political philosophers. The second part discusses the core issues on Rousseau’s equality through history of documentation. It contains the origin of Rousseau’s criticizing on modern society, human’s assumption on nature, the original sin of private property, the birth of civil society, social contract, sovereignty, legislation, issues between countries and Rousseau’s resolution on these issues. This third part, based on Marx’s historical materialism, explores inherent relationship between Rousseau’s equality and Marx’s ideology. It also offers a comprehensive evaluation on Rousseau’s equality.In general, Rousseau’s discussion on equality has its philosophical significance. First, based on equality, Rousseau’s criticizing on the rationalism in the 18th century and natural law has a positive significance in understanding the modern society. Second, Rousseau’s discussion on equality has inspired Marx, who extracts the beneficial part of Rousseau’s equality as his own theoretical basis but as a proletariat. Marx unveils the falsehood of bourgeoisie’s equality through criticizing capitalism therefore displays the communist prospect of liberty, equality and overall development.