Single Idea 19779

[catalogued under 24. Political Theory / A. Basis of a State / 1. A People / b. The natural life]

Full Idea

Nothing is so gentle as man in his primitive state.

Gist of Idea

Primitive man was very gentle

Source

Jean-Jacques Rousseau (Discourse on the Origin of Inequality [1754], Part II)

Book Reference

Rousseau,Jean-Jacques: 'The Basic Political Writings', ed/tr. Cress,Donald A. [Hackett 1987], p.64


A Reaction

This summarises Rousseau's view of the earliest stage of mankind, when there was little rivalry, and little motivation or opportunity for viciousness.