Jean-Jacques Rousseau, an influential Genevan philosopher and key figure of the Enlightenment, published this book in the mid-18th century. It challenged traditional notions of political authority. In these foundational works, Rousseau proposes a revolutionary political model where legitimate authority arises only from a "social contract" agreed upon by all citizens to protect their collective freedom. The book centers on the concept of the "general will," suggesting that true sovereignty resides with the people rather than a monarch. Ultimately, Rousseau’s ideas provided a radical intellectual framework that deeply influenced the French and American Revolution, as well as modern democratic thought.

London: Everyman’s Library, 1973. Revised edition. 409 pages. Hardcover book with dustjacket. Book is NEAR FINE with only an almost unnoticeable white mark on the front cover. The dustjacket is missing a slip on the front top portion and has a very small dent along the spine section. It also has some smudges on its back near the top right, making it in GOOD condition.