Discourse On the Origin of Inequality

Discourse On the Origin of Inequality Glossary

impostor

someone who presents themselves differently than they are

naïve

innocent, lacking experience

idleness

the state of not working or acting; rest or repose

gratifying

giving satisfaction.

fatigue

extreme tiredness

elaborate

detailed and extravagant

fortify

to surround with protection

Virtue

behaviour showing high moral standards.

Humble

modest

Despise

strongly dislike

prevail

to overcome or be victorious

Dread

to fear something

resolved

determined to go through with something

vain

shallow and conceited

bitterness

disappointment at being treated unfairly

Nature

the collective physical world, features and products of the earth opposed to those created by man

Mores

standards of behavior or belief

Inequality

the unequal distribution of opportunities and rewards to individuals based on the privileging of one social or religious category over another

Man

a human being and the human race in general

Faculty

an inherent mental or physical ability

Self-Perfection

the idea that man can improve himself through his own nature

Law

system of rules that regulate the actions of the members of a community by threat of punishment

Substance

the essential nature underlying phenomena; the first cause, which is subject to changes and accidents

Attribute

a quality or feature that characterizes someone or something

Despotism

exercise of absolute political power without regard for the inhabitants of that political space

Democracy

system of government where the people of a state rules itself by means of popular vote

Aristocracy

form of government that gives political power to a privileged ruling class

Magistrate

civil officer or local judge who administers the law in court

Stoic

member of an ancient philosophical school that advocated accepting hardship without complaint

Dogma

principles given by an authority as incontrovertibly true