olitical philosophy echoes the way of Lao Tzu: "The greatest talent a ruler can possess is to disguise his power, in order to render it less horrible, and to conduct the State so peaceably as to make it seem to have no need of conductors. "[v]irtue, no virtue without citizens; create citizens, and you have everything you need; without them, you will have nothing but debased slaves, from the rulers of the State downwards." He argued that the goal of government should be to secure freedom, equality, and justice for all within the state, regardless of the will of the majority. Yet Rousseau was not against positive law. On the contrary, laws protect those who are free from the vile enslaved man who violates them. We are free within the law, but again the laws must be in harmony with reason and the general good....
