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The Social Contract Study Guide

by Jean-Jacques Rousseau

The Social Contract study guide contains a biography of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

Rousseau begins The Social Contract with the notable phrase "Man is born free, but everywhere he is in chains." Because these chains are not found in the state of nature, they must be constructions of convention. Rousseau thus seeks the basis for a legitimate, political authority in which people must give up their natural liberty. He sets two conditions for a lawful polity and creates several clauses to ensure that they are carried out. First, there must be no relationships of particular dependence in the state, and second, by obeying the laws, an individual only obeys himself.

Rousseau's solution to the problem of legitimate authority is the "social contract," an agreement by which the people band together for their mutual preservation…

Read the full The Social Contract Summary

• The Social Contract Summary
• About The Social Contract
• Glossary of Terms
• Major Themes
• Summary and Analysis of Book I, Chapter I-IV
• Summary and Analysis of Book I, Chapters V-IX
• Summary and Analysis of Book II, Chapter I-V
• Summary and Analysis of Book II, Chapters VI-VII
• Summary and Analysis of Book II, Chapters VIII-XII
• Summary and Analysis of Book III, Chapters I-III
• Summary and Analysis of Book III, Chapters IV-VII
• Summary and Analysis of Book III, Chapters VIII-IX
• Summary and Analysis of Book III, Chapters X-XIV
• Summary and Analysis of Book III, Chapters XV-XVIII
• Summary and Analysis of Book IV, Chapters I-IV
• Summary and Analysis of Book IV, Chapters V-IX
• Criticisms of Social Contract Theory
• Related Links on The Social Contract
• Suggested Essay Questions
• Test Yourself! - Quiz 1
• Test Yourself! - Quiz 2
• Test Yourself! - Quiz 3
• Test Yourself! - Quiz 4
• Author of ClassicNote and Sources

• The Social Contract: Major Themes
• The Social Contract: Essays
• The Social Contract: Questions
• The Social Contract: Purchase the Novel and Related Material
• Jean-Jacques Rousseau: Biography