Can a man living in society be satisfied? In the essay Discourse on the origin of inequalities, author Jean-Jacques Rousseau addresses precisely this question. Man was born 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. By being exposed to others, the natural man became jealous of the abilities and possessions of others. These qualities that seemed better than their own caused man to seek them, ultimately creating the desire for perfection. Man also learns what it means to be moral and is then obligated to be virtuous. Reason is introduced to men in societies and they are then asked to obtain as much of it as possible. Rousseau states that “… nothing would have been more miserable than the savage man, dazzled by lights, tormented by passions, and reasoning about a state different from his own.” (Rousseau 34). Although man's transition from his natural state to society is wild man is in a state very different from the state of nature. The disconnect between desire and ability prevents man from being satisfied. Social man's aspiration to 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 Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay The social man's striving for perfection prevents him from being satisfied. In the state of nature, wild man lives alone and rarely comes into contact with others. If one natural man met another, they would either reproduce or be transmitted. 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 content with himself because he has no one to compare his skills to. Then “they end up dying without anyone realizing that they cease to exist” and from birth to death they are alone (22). However, the social man is exposed to many other people and is able to observe different talents in a variety of peoples. The social man came to the conclusion that “the one who sang or danced the best, the most beautiful, the strongest, the most skillful or the most eloquent became the most esteemed” (49). The social man noticed the correlation between excelling in one aspect and not being successful in the same area. He also observed how others reacted to the man who excelled rather than the man who was not as successful. This created jealousy, a feeling never expressed in the state of nature. The desire for oneself what another had. Social men are tormented “From these first preferences were born vanity and contempt on the one hand, and shame and envy on the other” (49). Vanity in being proud of what he knows how to do well, but contempt for what others are. proud to be able to do it. Ashamed for the talents he does not possess and envious of those who have the talents he desires. The social man is never capable of achieving total perfection which makes him incapable of being content. The social man also lacks reason, which prevents him from being happy. For a man to be part of society, he must have reason, which is obtained through others. The natural man has no reason because he is alone all his life, whereas the social man has none. 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 gentle voice” (38). The natural man is guided to do good.