Final answer:
Rousseau's famous statement highlights the contradiction between natural human freedom and societal constraints, advocating for a government that protects citizen freedom and is based on general will.
Step-by-step explanation:
When Jean-Jacques Rousseau stated, "Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains," he was expressing his belief that individuals are naturally endowed with freedom, but are constrained by societal structures and government systems. Rousseau considered oppressive governments to be in conflict with the natural rights of freedom and compassion that every person possesses. He championed the idea that the role of a legitimate government should be to protect its citizens' freedom and equality, aligning closely with the principles of a direct democracy. Rousseau further suggested in The Social Contract that if a government fails to safeguard the liberty of its people, it loses its legitimacy and right to govern.
Rousseau's assertion pointed to a human condition where people, although inherently free, find themselves entrapped within the web of social hierarchy, desires for wealth and status, and political regimes that often do not serve the general will. His philosophy underlines the significance of collective sovereignty, embodied by the general will, as the true power source in a state. Rousseau's ideas were radical for his time and contributed significantly to Enlightenment thinking, challenging concepts such as the divine right of kings and positing that power ultimately resides with the people who can choose to grant or retract it.