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The Social Contract by Jean-Jacques Rousseau

The Social Contract

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Philosophy
OutlineEssential Cut available

The Thesis

“But the social order is a sacred right which is the basis of all other rights. Nevertheless, this right does not come from nature, and must therefore be founded on conventions.”

— Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Contents

  1. 1Foreword57 w
  2. 2Book I — Introduction197 w
  3. 3Book I, Chapter I: SUBJECT OF THE FIRST BOOK168 w
  4. 4Book I, Chapter II: THE FIRST SOCIETIES716 w
  5. 5Book I, Chapter III: THE RIGHT OF THE STRONGEST353 w
  6. 6Book I, Chapter IV: SLAVERY1,680 w
  7. 7Book I, Chapter V: THAT WE MUST ALWAYS GO BACK TO A FIRST CONVENTION297 w
  8. 8Book I, Chapter VI: THE SOCIAL COMPACT932 w
  9. 9Book I, Chapter VII: THE SOVEREIGN761 w
  10. 10Book I, Chapter VIII: THE CIVIL STATE358 w
  11. 11Book I, Chapter IX: REAL PROPERTY1,056 w
  12. 12Book II, Chapter I: THAT SOVEREIGNTY IS INALIENABLE392 w
  13. 13Book II, Chapter II: THAT SOVEREIGNTY IS INDIVISIBLE654 w
  14. 14Book II, Chapter III: WHETHER THE GENERAL WILL IS FALLIBLE553 w
  15. 15Book II, Chapter IV: THE LIMITS OF THE SOVEREIGN POWER1,365 w
  16. 16Book II, Chapter V: THE RIGHT OF LIFE AND DEATH761 w
  17. 17Book II, Chapter VI: LAW1,165 w
  18. 18Book II, Chapter VII: THE LEGISLATOR1,494 w
  19. 19Book II, Chapter VIII: THE PEOPLE647 w
  20. 20Book II, Chapter IX: THE PEOPLE (continued)817 w
  21. 21Book II, Chapter X: THE PEOPLE (continued)1,053 w
  22. 22Book II, Chapter XI: THE VARIOUS SYSTEMS OF LEGISLATION766 w
  23. 23Book II, Chapter XII: THE DIVISION OF THE LAWS476 w
  24. 24Book III — Introduction27 w
  25. 25Book III, Chapter I: GOVERNMENT IN GENERAL1,908 w
  26. 26Book III, Chapter II: THE CONSTITUENT PRINCIPLE IN THE VARIOUS FORMS OF GOVERNMENT936 w
  27. 27Book III, Chapter III: THE DIVISION OF GOVERNMENTS419 w
  28. 28Book III, Chapter IV: DEMOCRACY661 w
  29. 29Book III, Chapter V: ARISTOCRACY746 w
  30. 30Book III, Chapter VI: MONARCHY2,117 w
  31. 31Book III, Chapter VII: MIXED GOVERNMENTS339 w
  32. 32Book III, Chapter VIII: THAT ALL FORMS OF GOVERNMENT DO NOT SUIT ALL COUNTRIES1,851 w
  33. 33Book III, Chapter IX: THE MARKS OF A GOOD GOVERNMENT712 w
  34. 34Book III, Chapter X: THE ABUSE OF GOVERNMENT AND ITS TENDENCY TO DEGENERATE1,178 w
  35. 35Book III, Chapter XI: THE DEATH OF THE BODY POLITIC435 w
  36. 36Book III, Chapter XII: HOW THE SOVEREIGN AUTHORITY MAINTAINS ITSELF337 w
  37. 37Book III, Chapter XIII: THE SAME (continued)516 w
  38. 38Book III, Chapter XIV: THE SAME (continued)269 w
  39. 39Book III, Chapter XV: DEPUTIES OR REPRESENTATIVES1,310 w
  40. 40Book III, Chapter XVI: THAT THE INSTITUTION OF GOVERNMENT IS NOT A CONTRACT453 w
  41. 41Book III, Chapter XVII: THE INSTITUTION OF GOVERNMENT386 w
  42. 42Book III, Chapter XVIII: HOW TO CHECK THE USURPATIONS OF GOVERNMENT708 w
  43. 43Book IV, Chapter I: THAT THE GENERAL WILL IS INDESTRUCTIBLE750 w
  44. 44Book IV, Chapter II: VOTING1,085 w
  45. 45Book IV, Chapter III: ELECTIONS678 w
  46. 46Book IV, Chapter IV: THE ROMAN COMITIA3,570 w
  47. 47Book IV, Chapter V: THE TRIBUNATE674 w
  48. 48Book IV, Chapter VI: THE DICTATORSHIP1,112 w
  49. 49Book IV, Chapter VII: THE CENSORSHIP615 w
  50. 50Book IV, Chapter VIII: CIVIL RELIGION4,105 w
  51. 51Book IV, Chapter IX: CONCLUSION83 w

The Social Contract — Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Translated by G.D.H. Cole

Source edition: J.M. Dent & Sons / E.P. Dutton & Co. (Everyman's Library), 1920

Public-domain text · ref #46333