Rousseau - Discourse On The Origin And Foundations Of Inequality Among Men. 1755. First Edition.

ROUSSEAU (Jean-Jacques).

Discourse
on the Origin and Foundations of Inequality Among Men.

Amsterdam: Marc-Michel Rey, 1755.

One volume in in-12 format (168 x 98 mm), comprising xlvii, xvi pp., 1 folio-sized leaf, and 203 pp.

Contemporary binding in full brown marbled calfskin, Jansenist covers, smooth spine decorated with a gilded border fillet, double gilded fillets, large gilded fleur-de-lis decoration, scattered small gilded stars, title label in sand-colored morocco, gilded title.

Edition published at the time of the original; described as a “counterfeit” by Dufour.

Here it is presented in a binding adorned at the foot with a gilded fleur-de-lis depicting a curious sea creature wearing a crown.

The Discourse on Inequality should be read as the foundation of Rousseau’s moral and political work: in it, he affirms his stature as a philosopher, the originality of his voice, and the strength of his “system.”

Resolving the problem posed by the Academy of Dijon—“What is the source of inequality among men, and is it authorized by natural law?” In other words, explaining why the rich and powerful dominate their fellow human beings—over whom they have no real superiority—requires, in Rousseau’s view, a fresh examination of the question “What is man?”

To do this, one must understand how his “present nature” was formed, so far removed from what his state of nature would be: “If I have dwelled so long on the supposition of this primitive condition, it is because, having ancient errors and ingrained prejudices to destroy, I felt I had to dig down to the very root.”

Dufour I, Bibliographical Research on the Printed Works of J.-J. Rousseau, 57 - Cioranescu III, Bibliography of 18th-Century French Literature, 54701 (with a different collation) - Tchemerzine X, Bibliography of First Editions and Rare Books by French Authors, p. 32 - Rahir, The Amateur’s Library, p. 622.

Worn corners. A semicircular brown stain on the front cover, which also shows slight wear. A few faint foxing spots throughout the text block and pages that are occasionally slightly oxidized. A tiny perforation in the top margin of one page. Nevertheless, overall in fine condition.