Can a man living in society be happy? In the essay Discourse on the Origin of Inequality, author Jean-Jacques Rousseau addresses this very question. Man initially originated in the state of nature, where he was alone and depended only on himself. Over time, the natural man began to deviate from the system and evolve into a social man where he lives in a community surrounded by other men. Through exposure to others, the natural man has become envious of the abilities and possessions of others. These qualities that seemed better than his own pushed man to pursue them, ultimately creating the desire for perfection. Man is also taught what it means to be moral and is then in turn forced to be virtuous. Reason is introduced to men in societies and then they are required to get as much of it as possible. Rousseau states that, “…nothing would have been so miserable as the savage man, dazzled by enlightenment and tormented by passions, and reasoning on a state other than his own.” (Rousseau 34). Although man's transition from his natural state to society occurs in a wild state, very different from the state of nature. The disconnect between desire and ability prevents man from being satisfied. Social man's yearning for perfection, his inability to be completely virtuous, and his inability to be fully reasonable prevent him from being satisfied. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The social man's pursuit of perfection prevents him from being satisfied. In the state of nature wild man lives alone and rarely comes into contact with another person. If natural man ever met another, they would breed or interbreed. He is not exposed to the natural talents of others, so according to the natural man he is in no way inferior because he cannot have any public value. The natural man is pleased with himself because he has no one to compare his abilities with. Then “they finally die without anyone realizing that they are ceasing to exist” and are alone from birth to death (22). However, the social man is exposed to many other people and is able to observe diverse talents from a variety of peoples. The social man came to the conclusion that "he who sang or danced best, the most beautiful, the strongest, the most skilled or the most eloquent became the most esteemed" (49). The social man noticed the correlation between excelling in one aspect and underachieving in the same thing, he also observed how others responded to the man who excelled rather than the man who did not perform as well. This created jealousy, a feeling never expressed in the state of nature. Wanting for yourself what someone else had. Social men are tormented «From these first preferences were born vanity and contempt on the one hand, shame and envy on the other» (49). Vanity resulting from pride in what he can do well, but contempt for what others are proud of being able to do it. Ashamed of the talents he does not possess and envy of those who have the talents he desires. The social man never manages to reach total perfection, which makes him incapable of being satisfied. The social man also lacks reason, which prevents him from being satisfied. For a man to be part of society he must have reason, which is obtained through other people. The natural man is not right because he is alone throughout his life, while the social man is not. In the state of nature «Pity is that which... takes the place of laws, morality and virtue, with the advantage that no one is tempted to disobey its sweet.