The Equality Thought Of Rousseau And Its Contemporary Enlightenment

Jean Jacques Rousseau is a great thinker and a philosopher of Enlightenment Period. He is also a pioneer of French bourgeois revolution in 18th century. Any philosophical thought or political thought is the product of the era of thinkers. So, Rousseau’s thought is closely linked with the social political economic situation before the French Revolution, it has become not only a theoretical weapon in France and most of the bourgeois revolution, but also left a precious legacy for human thought treasure house. Nowadays, it is especially important for us to analysis Rousseau’s thought of equality and it will give us a lot of enlightenment, because there are many unfair problems in our country which is now in the process of transforming.Firstly, the thesis traces back to the theoretical origin and background of Rousseau’s thought of equality. And then, it is divided into the essence and significance of equality, criticize the inequality of traditional and reality, reveal the origin of human inequality, explore the way to solve inequality and advocate shaping the concept of socialist equality five parts. Rousseau believes that all men are created equal, and no one has the right to enslave others, after criticizing slavery, feudal privilege and the civilization of capitalist, deeply. His concept of equal is not equalitarianism but as for wealth no one is rich enough to buy another and no one is poor enough to betray himself, as for power, it cannot become any violent means. Human beings are equal in natural state, but equality disappear when someone find having two meals is better than having ones, which means the equality will die away after once the emergence of private ownership. And when human forced into the social state, the inequality will become deepen as the increasing desires. So, Rousseau tries to find a way to solve the equality when human beings forced into socialism station, which is the purpose of the theory of social contract. Christian of socialism station makes a contract that gives all of themselves to community and control by the common power. At the same time, civilized people use law to protect general will so as to achieve equality. Only equal are human beings can obtain freedom which is created by the nature, and then live a happiness and harmonious life.While, there are many unfair problems in our country which is now in the process of transforming. So, the thesis intents to explore some enlightenment by combining the reality of our country, for example, narrow the gap between the rich and the poor, prevent corruption, improve social security system and so on after analyzing the equality thought of Rousseau. All of these are favorable to achieve Chinese Dream.