Society corrupts human goodness, Rousseau argued
Jean-Jacques Rousseau posited that humans are born inherently good and compassionate, but societal structures and civilization inevitably corrupt this natural purity.
Eighteenth-century philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau famously believed that humans are born good, but society corrupts this natural purity. He argued that early humans lived in harmony, driven by simple needs and empathy, a concept sometimes called the 'noble savage.'
There's more to this story — open the app to keep reading.
Continue Reading in App
2 more paragraphs · plus a 4-question quiz