Custom essays on Inequality and Its Impact on the Society

Labor becomes crucial for the division of labor because working people have to work to earn for living, whereas landowners earn exploiting workers that engenders inequality in the society. At the same time, Adam Smith argues that labor is based on self-interest of division of labor (Smith part 8, 26). This means that the wages workers earn are paid by landlords and owners of manufactures but the benefits are distributed unequally because landlords tend to appropriate a larger part of benefits, whereas workers receive only wages they earn from the landlords. At the same time, the qualification of employees also influences their wages because the higher is the qualification of employees, the higher is the wages they receive (Smith part 7, 30). In such a way, the division of labor influences the level of wages, according to Adam Smith. In fact, the landlords and owners of tools of production define the wages of workers, whereas workers have nothing but their labor to sell. In this regard, Smith defines the wages on the ground of the qualification and division of labor, although he underestimates the role of the labor in the wages of workers for Smith defines the competition and division of labor as key factors defining wages of workers.
Unlike Adam Smith, who focuses on the material causes of inequality, Jean Jacques Rousseau focuses on the moral aspects of inequality. To put it more precisely, Jean Jacques Rousseau stands on the ground that language and ideas played the crucial part in the way progressed was made (Rousseau part 8, 31). He argues that the moral and socio-cultural norms developed within the society contribute to the progress made by the society. At the same time, the material progress is grounded on the moral development of the society, whereas the selfishness of individuals provokes the inequality within the society. To put it more precisely, individuals seek personal benefits and they want to take a better position in the society that provokes their competition and inequality, as the result of the competitive struggle between individuals in socioeconomic relations (Rousseau part 7, 27).
In such a way, according to Rousseau, the inequality is the result of individual choices (Rousseau part 8, 31). This means that it is basically due to selfishness of individuals, the inequality between them prospers and they attempt to gain a better position in the society to take advantage and to meet their individual needs. At this point, it is worth mentioning the fact that the development of the social relations and economic relations are closely intertwined but individual benefits are prior to the collective well-being of the entire society. To put it more precisely, individuals are driven by their personal inclinations and desires. Therefore, Rousseau ignores material and natural factors influence the inequality. For instance, he denies the physical inequality between individuals as a crucial factor contributing to the broad social inequality. At the same time, Rousseau argues that the governments are formed to help the society to regulate social relationships and prevent serious conflicts within the society (Rousseau part 7, 28). In fact, the governments use laws to regulate relationships within the society and to provide basic norms and rules, according to which people live in the society. At this point, it is worth mentioning the fact that the laws contribute to the regulations of social relations but Rousseau argues that the laws are not imposed on individuals. Instead, they are the result of the agreement within the society because, according to these rules and laws, people live and they agree to accept and observe these laws for the sake of maintenance of the stability within the society. The violation of laws naturally leads to the destruction of the existing social norms. As a result, people are not willing to live in chaos and the concept of social contract, Rousseau develops in his works is essential for the elimination of wide social gaps. In fact, if the social contract fails to work properly, the gap between individuals grow wider and they cannot live according to existing laws. The laws should be adapted to social needs (Rousseau part 8, 30). Otherwise, laws become ineffective and social conflicts grow stronger leading to the revolution. However, the poor accept the norms suggested by the rich because they need stable and comprehensible rules, which can protect them from abuse from the part of individuals holding a higher social standing and people, who are just stronger them. In such a way, the social contract is essential for both the rich and the poor because it maintains stability within the society and prevents the violation of basic rights and liberties of both the rich and the poor, although the laws established and maintained by governments may be discriminatory for the poor. The laws set rules, which give each individual minimal, basic rights that protect their basic personal needs but the higher is the social standing of an individual the more rights and liberties the individual has.
Thus, taking into account all above mentioned, it is important to place emphasis on the fact that the inequality in the society persists because of the socioeconomic differences and individual selfishness. At this point, it is worth mentioning the fact that Adam Smith stands on the ground that the division of labor contributes to the widening gaps, while landlords exploit workers to maximize their benefits. Instead, Rousseau stresses the importance of selfishness of individuals and the social contract, which is established in the society and is maintained by the government through laws.

References
Rousseau, J.J. (n.d.). A Dissertation on the Origin and Foundation of Inequality of Mankind.
Smith, A. (2008). On the Division of Labor. New York: Random House.