In the story of the modern self, then, Rousseau’s focus on the inner psychological life of the individual as taking us to the heart of who he or she is represents a key development in Western culture, the significance of which still has a profound effect on how we think of our identities today. And inevitably, as societies are made up of individuals, Rousseau’s focus on the inner life stands in positive relation to his view of the impact of our various social arrangements on the individual.
