The abolition of slavery was not a phenomenon particular to the 19th century. Forerunners like Jean-François Butini (1747-1805) had written about the subject previously. In his literary work entitled Lettres africaines, he advocates the immediate liberation of enslaved people. According to him, this would have countless advantages for the support and development of the global economy based on the exploitation of colonies. The economic calculation underpinned and justified the progressive struggle. F. Rossinelli

C'est de l'homme que j'ai à parler. Rousseau et l'inégalité par Danielle Buyssens et Christian Delécraz [PDF 38 Mo]