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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Rousseau lament in Chapter 3?

2. What do men become when they acquire more than others according to Rousseau?

3. According to Rousseau, what is the first step to uncover the nature of inequality?

4. How many natural principles does Rousseau say exist before reason?

5. What does not preserve liberty according to Rousseau?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do humans owe their ideas to, according to Rousseau?

2. What does Rousseau begin by supposing in Chapter 4?

3. What natural enemies does man have, according to Rousseau?

4. How does Chapter 3 open?

5. What does philosophy do?

6. What does nature give man?

7. What happens when we give up liberty?

8. What does Rousseau claim about the rich or the wealthy?

9. What does Rousseau believe about those who create property rights in Chapter 5?

10. What are the two types of inequality among humans presented by Rousseau in Chapter 4?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In an essay, discuss the criticism of Rousseau's arguments, particularly of how man is corrupted by civilization. Using secondary sources to support your analysis, discuss why his conclusions were correct or incorrect.

Essay Topic 2

In an essay, Rousseau discusses how securing freedom of citizens is the sole purpose of the state. Discuss the role of the state and compare the types of government. Use the text to support your discussion.

Essay Topic 3

In the Preface, Rousseau quotes Aristotle and says "What is natural has to be investigated not in begins that are depraved, but in those that are good according to nature." In an essay, discuss the idea of nature and how it may justify inequality. Use the text to support your discussion.

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