Why did Jean-Jacques Rousseau consider private property a major cause of inequality?

In his Discourse on the Origin of Inequality, Jean-Jacques Rousseau identified the introduction of property as a critical step toward social inequality.12

Rousseau argued that in the original state of nature, the earth belonged to no one, and humans lived in a condition of primitive innocence. As society developed, the emergence of private property necessitated the creation of law and government to protect the possessions of those who had acquired them.12

This development fostered inequality for several reasons:

• Legitimization of Disparity: Civil society and its laws served to transform de facto ownership into rightful, protected ownership, which primarily benefited the wealthy.12
• Dispossession: While the system provided a veneer of peace, it effectively kept the poor dispossessed, cementing a divide between those with property and those without.12
• Corruption of Morals: The desire to accumulate property and gain status led to destructive passions, such as jealousy and pride, causing individuals to compare themselves to others and prioritize their own interests over the common good.2

Ultimately, Rousseau viewed this as a "fatal" departure from human equality, where the resulting social structure favored the rich and alienated humanity from its natural state.12