HISTORY IN JEAN-JACQUES ROUSSEAU: THE DECAY OF NO RETURN

Abstract

Since the Discourse on the Arts and Science, Rousseau points us to a history of societies when he negatively answers to the Academy of Dijon’s question if the reestablishment of sciences and arts would have contributed to the enhancement of moral. In the Discourse on the Origin and Basis of Inequality Among Men, the philosopher discusses the history of mankind as a history of decay and degeneration, whereof is mpossible to return to the original nature. The corruption in the societies may be retarded but never reversed. In other words, Rousseau presents a linear conception of history, which will be demonstrated in this essay through the interpretation of Maria das Graças de Souza.