Question

To renounce liberty is to renounce being a man, to surrender the rights of humanity and even its duties. For him who renounces everything no indemnity is possible. Such a renunciation is incompatible with man's nature; to remove all liberty from his will is to remove all morality from his acts. Finally, it is an empty and contradictory convention that sets up, on the one side, absolute authority, and, on the other, unlimited obedience.

–The Social Contract,
Jean-Jacques Rousseau


What is one major topic of this excerpt from the document?

the value of nature
the importance of equality
the freedom of individuals
the need for sacrifice

Answer 1

One major topic of the excerpt is:

C. the freedom of individuals.

Step-by-step explanation:

Jean Jacques Rousseau was a philosopher and political theorist born in Geneva in 1712. His work "The Social Contract" was first published in 1762.

As we can see in the excerpt, one major team is the freedom of individuals. Rousseau explains that freedom is a premise of humanity, and that no individual should give his freedom away completely. However, in "The Social Contract", he does defend the idea that part of one's freedom should be surrendered for the welfare of the community. That is the social contract we establish with our government or the police, for example. I give away part of my freedom when I give someone else (the police) the right to arrest me. Yet, I do it so that myself and others may be protected when or if necessary.