Rousseaus conception of nature often seems altogether disconnected from his political philosophy. Where the former s erves as the central motif in Rousseaus general philosophical outlook, the latter is a juridical doctrine that appears to operate outside his comprehensive theoretical framework. This essay, however, seeks to demonstrate the opposite conclusion. Far from being independent of it, Rousseaus political philosophy depends decisively upon his conception of nature. My argument proceeds by way of three claims. First, I seek to explain Rousseaus conception of human nature, and to demonstrate how it gives rise to the possibilities that his political philosophy explores. Second, I link the critical and constructive elements of Rousseaus work and make the case for post -state of nature naturalness, arguing that the teleological aspects of Rousseaus conception of nature have important implications for his political philosophy. Finally, I make an explicit case for a politics of nature, connecting Rousseaus political prescriptions to his conception of nature in concrete ways.