Rousseau cited the origin of private property as the need for institutions, and ergo, the downfall of the 'noble savage.' With that being said, do you think he would call for the abdication of all institutions today? It seems to me that despite the vicious perpetuation of oppression that many (but certainly not all) institutions demonstrate today, we are too deeply entrenched, pragmatically speaking, to completely do without all of them. Would Rousseau agree, disagree, or perhaps call for reform?
It is worth noting that perhaps even Rousseau did not think his theory of human nature was at all realistic, but simply an idealistic commentary on the state of societies he observed. Nonetheless, what about now?
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