This should make the
situation with writing your analytical essay easier. First, the writer
identifies the source of inequality according to Voltaire. Second, the writer
gives a comparison between the source of inequality from Voltaire’s point of view
and Rousseau’s point of view. Finally, the writer interprets the two authors’
works.
Source
of Inequality
According
to Voltaire, the source of inequality is the human needs and dependency. Man
have several wants that he desires them satisfied. That is why there is
inequality. Voltaire writes, “If all men then were without needs, they would
thus be necessarily equal. It is the poverty that is a part of our species that
subordinates one man to another. It is not inequality, it is dependence that is
the real misfortune.”(Voltaire 2) From this statement, Voltaire means that if
man had no needs, then everybody will be equal in the society. However,
poverty, which brings about dependence, leads to inequality in the
society. Furthermore, Voltaire says,
“All men are born with a rather violent penchant for domination, wealth, and
pleasure, and with a strong taste for idleness. Consequently, all men covet the
money, wives, or daughters of other men, want to be their master, subjecting
them to all their caprices and doing nothing, or at least only doing enjoyable
things.”(3) Since all men are born with a desire for wealth, it is impossible
for them to be equal. Voltaire, therefore, concludes that the source of
inequality is the human needs.
On
the other hand, Rousseau states that the source of inequality is private
property. Rousseau writes, The first who, having enclosed a piece of land is
thought of saying This is mine, and found people simple enough to believe, was
the true founder of civil society.”(Rousseau 9) Furthermore, Rousseau states
that the advent of private property in the society created inequality. Unlike
Voltaire who only states the source of inequality, Rousseau gives different
types of inequality; the physical or natural inequality and the moral
inequality. According to Rousseau, the cause of natural inequality is age,
health and other physical characteristics while the cause of moral inequality
is the conventions of men.
I
believe the sources of inequality as discussed by Voltaire and Rousseau still
hold today. In the contemporary world, the source of inequality is the human
wants. Human beings have unlimited wants, yet they strive to satisfy most of
them. Since people want to have more, they establish ways of acquiring
property. This leads to Rousseau’s argument on the source of inequality in the
society. Today, there are two types of inequality; the natural inequality and
the moral inequality. On the natural or physical inequality, there is
difference in the well-being of people because of the differences in age,
health and physical characteristics. A person’s age can determine his or her
well-being in the society. Health is a crucial factor in determining the
well-being of a person. In my opinion,
human beings were created with the inherent desire for things. Therefore,
people will always have needs. Since always strive to fulfil the needs, then
there will always be inequality as they seek to improve their well-being. Therefore, I think the source of inequality in
the society include human needs and private property such as the ownership of
land. Unfortunately, the gap between the poor and the rich continues to
increase as the rich acquire more private property than the poor.
Works
Cited
Rousseau,
Jean-Jacques. Discourse on Inequality: On the Origin and Basis of Inequality
Among Men. Auckland: Floating Press, 1910. Internet resource.
Voltaire
and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, French and English Philosophers: Descartes,
Rousseau, Voltaire, Hobbes. New York: Cosimo Classics, 2009. Print.
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