ABSTRACT
Thecourseofmyargumentproceedsalongthefollowing lines: I . Ittakesitsdeparturefromthepassionatecriticismofcon-
temporarysocietywhichcanbefoundinRousseau'sworksfrom 1750onward,andwhichheneverwithdrew.
2.ItshowsthatRousseau'sjudgmentofc o n t e m p o r a r y man istoalargeextentinagreementwiththeviewsofHobbesand Mandeville,butatthesametimeRousseaustressedthathisidea ofcontemporarymanisbynomeansidenticalwithhisconcept ofthe"natural"man.
