Who wrote Discourse on Inequality (Second Discourse)?

→ Jean-Jacques Rousseau authored the Discourse on the Origin and Basis of Inequality Among Men (also known as the Second Discourse) in 1754.
→ In this work, he argues that private property is the root cause of moral and social inequality in human civilization.
→ The significance of the book lies in its depiction of the "state of nature" where humans were noble and free before being corrupted by society.
→ It is a fundamental text of modern political philosophy and served as an ideological precursor to the French Revolution.
Information Booster

→ The book was written for an essay competition held by the Academy of Dijon.
→ Rousseau distinguishes between natural inequality (age, health) and moral inequality (wealth, power).
→ He famously stated that the first person who enclosed a piece of land and said "This is mine" was the true founder of civil society and its evils.
→ He also wrote Emile (on education) and The Social Contract.
→ His ideas influenced Romanticism and socialist thought.
Additional Information

Option (A) Montesquieu: He is famous for The Spirit of the Laws, which focuses on the separation of powers and types of government, rather than the origin of inequality.
Option (B) Voltaire: A prolific writer and critic of the Church, he is best known for Candide and his advocacy for freedom of speech and secularism.
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