Summary:
In his Second Discourse, Rousseau examined the differences between natural man and modern man. He concluded that the natural man's situation is better because, unlike modern man, natural man is not bound by social norms, morals, obligations, and duties. Having no moral relationship or obligation to other men and no subjugated inequality, natural man is better for himself and society.
Rousseau, in the Second Discourses, examines the differences between natural and modern man. As used in his writing, natural man refers to mankind unfettered by social norms, morals, obligations, and duties. Modern man, however, is bound by these factors. Conformity with these factors allows modern man to experience virtue, whereas non-conformity results in vices. In the passage in question, Rousseau explores how natural man is better for himself and society because natural man has no moral relationship or obligations to other men and no subjugated inequality. He then offers a solution to how modern man can return to the natural state.
Rousseau thinks the behavior of savage man is unaffected by others. These individuals have no "moral relationship or known duties" (128) to others or to the world. Their actions are "neither good nor evil" (128) because they are not bounded by social rules, which dictate how people should act and think towards each other and the world as a whole. That is, a person does not have to worry about what others think of him or his actions. Rousseau further believes that savage man has "neither vices nor virtues" (128) because he has no commitments or relationships. One flaw with modern society, which is not shared by savages, is that people are concerned with their reputation, morality, and how others perceive them. They get caught up in the pressures of trying to conform to the expectations of others. Their personalities consequently change, almost to the point of non-recognition. In their quest to achieve material things, modern man misses or forgets the essence of who he really is.
"Since men enjoyed very great leisure [with the introduction of literacy and modern technology], they used it to procure many kinds of commodities unknown to their fathers" (147). Mordern man's quest for material power, or virtue, creates inequality among themselves by making some individuals subservient to others in order to fulfill their desire for power and luxury. Modern man tries to use reason in order to gain virtue, but instead, reason has resulted in social inequality and vice. Therefore, Rousseau argues reason should be the cure to social inequality but instead becomes the disease.
Rousseau also suggests that in modern society, men are unequal because of dependency or "moral and political inequality" (101). The men with power and status control and manipulate others into lives under themselves. Those under then have to act not on their own will and freedom, but subject themselves to those atop. Those being controlled are like puppets on a stage that are not able to think and make choices for themselves and thus, never know who they truly are since they are always doing and saying things to please others. The problem with this is that such a person is confused where he is in life and is constantly under social pressures. Thus, Rousseau argues that "rather than subjecting themselves to a universal dependence and obliging themselves to receive everything from those who do not obligate themselves to give them anything" (128), why not look to the savage man? Savage man does not have such pressures and constraints.
Hence, as Rousseau suggests, wouldn't it be better if we lowered the moral and expectations bar for society so that humans could live more freely? A society where we live simply for basic needs? A society where love and competition serve to benefit, and not hurt others as do modern man? Natural man lives where there is no stress on morality and where he is concerned about himself. Stress increases with time.
Therefore, as modern man grows older, he experiences greater love, jealousy and competition. When weighing costs and benefits, the benefit realized by love is outweighed by the evil or vices spawned by jealousy and competition. Modern man's love is beneficial for reasons such as growing and engendering a family. However, as his love grows, it creates greater jealousy and competition that end up hurting society. In comparison the love by natural man devoid of jealousy and competition, does not result in negative benefits. Natural man's competition involves satisfying basic needs, such as fighting and getting food. This competition doesn't hurt society as do that of modern man. This is the huge paradox of how natural man is indeed better off than modern man for himself and for society.
To conclude, modern civilization has turned into a society driven by wants and desires, which are greater than its basic needs. In addition, modern man is characterized by self-love or amour-propre. This love for his self and personal property turns man into an individual who thinks of himself in comparison with others. Arguably, therefore, modern man essentially forgot who he is as a human being. Further, humans have moved from aidez-moi, where we begin to look for man's help or subsistence, to aimez-moi, take me or help. Rousseau explores how because natural man has no moral relationships or obligations or social inequality, natural man's situation is better not only for him but society as compared to modern man. For that reason, we can return to the natural, more content state by simply lowering the bar of society in terms of expectations and morality.
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