La función del estado de naturaleza en El origen de la desigualdad entre los hombres

Abstract

This work is aimed at developing and analyzing the theoretical concept of
the state of nature, as described by Jean Jaques Rousseau in On the origin of inequality,
determining the intention underlying such concept, its role in the essay’s argument and
its relation with the author’s general objective, more thoroughly developed in The social contract. Further, I will explain the reasons why I consider that historical, anthropological and psychological interpretations are unfeasible, playing down the importance of human nature’s description still included in the text. Finally, I will come up with
the conclusion that this theoretical concept, grounded on philosophical considerations,
is intended to be the basis of a political model that, from a prescriptive view, will shape
ethical and political ambitions.
Particularly, I will provide arguments against John Scott’s position, who supports a psychologist interpretation of the Second Discourse but, at the same time, I will suggest
that its speculative value was not impaired by its prescriptive nature. Finally, I will use Aristotle’s theory on poetry and Ricoeur’s considerations on writing, in order to defend the state of nature’s capacity to reflect mankind’s political possibilities, based on the jusnaturalist view of history and political philosophy.