Rousseau, Hereditary Slavery, and the Moral Foundations of Human Freedom: A Philosophical Examination Introduction Among the most powerful and enduring critiques of slavery in modern political thought is Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s assertion in that hereditary slavery is fundamentally incompatible with human nature and political legitimacy. Rousseau rejects not merely the institution of slavery as a historical … Continue reading Examine the philosophical foundations of Rousseau’s claim that hereditary slavery negates the very essence of human existence as a moral and political being.