Jean-Jacques Rousseau's "Social Contract," published in 1762, is still regarded as a key text of the European Enlightenment and political philosophy in general. In the four books of his brilliant main work, the famous French thinker views the state as an agreement made by its citizens in absolute freedom: individuals voluntarily submit their personal will to the general will of the community in their pursuit. According to Rousseau, it is crucial that the necessary state power does not unlawfully and excessively infringe upon the inalienable freedom of the individual.