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

2. What does Rousseau say a state should not have any desire for?

3. What is rooted in passion according to Rousseau?

4. How do people see the weak according to Rousseau?

5. What does Rousseau want his countrymen to retain?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What does Rousseau argue about contemporary historical events?

3. What does Rousseau have high hopes for?

4. What does Rousseau desire about law and the people?

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

6. What are the two conclusions about inequality that Rousseau traces at the end of Chapter 5?

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

8. What is fraught with challenges according to Rousseau?

9. What happens as men acquire more?

10. What does Rousseau lament in Chapter 3?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the idea of perfection, also identified as man's ability to improve himself and the role of the environment. Discuss Rousseau's examination of perfectibility and adaptation by using the text to support your statements.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss Rousseau's belief in personal freedom and autonomy in relation to the government and compare his thoughts with that of Locke in an essay. Students should use Rousseau's First and Second Discourses, as well as Locke's Second Treatise of Government to support their discussion.

Essay Topic 3

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.

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