Rousseau - Second Discourse (FROM SPARKNOTES)

What does Rousseau say about the gap between sensations and knowledge?

There is a great gulf that took a long time to cross, exemplified by the development of concepts like agriculture and property.

How did Rousseau believe language first developed?

Language began as the cry of nature, stemming from mere instinct, and gradually expanded with the development of human ideas.

What role does pity play according to Rousseau in the state of nature?

Pity moderates self-love and contributes to mutual self-preservation among species, acting in place of laws and morals.

How does Rousseau view the concept of natural inequality?

Natural inequality is scarcely perceptible in the state of nature, and many perceived differences are a result of habit and lifestyle rather than innate qualities.

What are the two types of love that Rousseau discusses?

The two types of love are physical love (sexual desire) and moral love (romantic attachment), with the latter leading to quarrels in society.

What is Rousseau's perspective on savage man and self-preservation?

Savage man has a calm instinct for self-preservation that does not inherently conflict with others' self-preservation.

How does Rousseau differentiate savage man from civil man?

Savage man exhibits commiseration and empathy more strongly, while civil man becomes isolated and less likely to help others due to reason.

What does Rousseau argue about the development of social virtues?

They require external influences and contingencies; perfectibility could not develop by itself.

Why does Rousseau consider the time in the state of nature to be the best for mankind?

Because self-preservation does not conflict among individuals, leading to less potential for harm.

What is the implication of man's inability to understand domination in Rousseau's view?

It suggests that subjugation or servitude arises only through mutual dependence and needs, not from innate power dynamics.