Book I of Rousseau's The Social Contract stresses that this contract will sustain liberty and/or freedom more efficiently than the state of nature, thus, paving the way for lawful and sound political power. Rousseau says that lawful political power does not exist in nature. Instead, political power becomes legitimate by the formation of contracts built between the members of society. The only legitimate political authority found in nature is that of the authority that a father holds over his child. ... Therefore, agreement would have to be the only legitimate means by which political auth...

• Word Count: 7115
• Approx Pages: 28
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Book I of Rousseau's The Social Contract stresses that this contract will sustain liberty and/or freedom more efficiently than the state of nature, thus, paving the way for lawful and sound political power. Rousseau says that lawful political power does not exist in nature. Instead, political power becomes legitimate by the formation of contracts built between the members of society. The only legitimate political authority found in nature is that of the authority that a father holds over his child. ... Therefore, agreement would have to be the only legitimate means by which political auth...

• Word Count: 7114
• Approx Pages: 28
• Grade Level: Undergraduate