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Chapter 1, A Discourse on the Moral Effects of the Arts and Sciences, Part I

• Chapter 1, A Discourse on the Moral Effects of the Arts and Sciences, Part I

• Jean-Jacques Rousseau wonders about the moral effects of the arts and sciences on a society in his "A Discourse on Inequality".

• He finds the end of Europe's "barbarism" results in a new period of reason.

• Rousseau believes arts and sciences exist under government and the law.

• He sees that this existence causes people to become despotic.

• Rousseau thinks slavery makes men civilized.

• Before art, men had natural morality according to Rousseau.

• He thinks humans could see through people because of life's simplicity.

• Rousseau feels today men hide and suppress motives, such as jealousy.

• He sees that the arts have helped to repress wickedness.

• Rousseau believes that art has caused the degradation of society.

• Socrates praised ignorance because of its effects...

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