This is a qiute, directly taken from Jean-Jacques Rousseau's book 'The Social Contract' published in 1792. Rousseau 1712-1778 was a French philosopher and writer.
He challenged the orthodox view that Society was the way that it was, with a King, Church, rich people and people living in grinding poverty, because this was the way that God had made things this way.
Instead he argued, God had created all men (sic) equal. Men were all naturally good and God had not made Society, but men had, therefore it could be un-made.
He argued for a social contract between members of Society. This contract would in fact be an exchange of rights and freedoms, so that all could live happily in Society. Any self interest which came into conflict with the common good which would be the aim of this Society, would be viewed as immoral and therefore not permissible. But apart from this, each indivdual would be happy and living a good life.
This concept may sound rather naive, but in fact it founded some philosophical discussion which is the basis of many western democracies.
He challenged the orthodox view that Society was the way that it was, with a King, Church, rich people and people living in grinding poverty, because this was the way that God had made things this way.
Instead he argued, God had created all men (sic) equal. Men were all naturally good and God had not made Society, but men had, therefore it could be un-made.
He argued for a social contract between members of Society. This contract would in fact be an exchange of rights and freedoms, so that all could live happily in Society. Any self interest which came into conflict with the common good which would be the aim of this Society, would be viewed as immoral and therefore not permissible. But apart from this, each indivdual would be happy and living a good life.
This concept may sound rather naive, but in fact it founded some philosophical discussion which is the basis of many western democracies.