Oswald argued in The Cry of Nature or an Appeal to Mercy and Justice on Behalf of the Persecuted Animals, that man is naturally equipped with feelings of mercy and compassion.
Blandt Rousseaus samtidige var den skotske forfatter John Oswald, som i The Cry of Nature or an Appeal to Mercy and Justice on Behalf of the Persecuted Animals taler for, at mennesket naturligt er udstyret med følelserne nåde og medlidenhed.