Jean-Jacques Rousseau"Man is born free, and everywhere he is in shackles."
Rousseau is most prominently known for his formal philosophy as it was put forth in his great work The Social Contract, or Principles of Political Right. This work, which was published in 1762, outlines the basis for a legitimate political order. It is now one of the most influential works of Western political philosophy. In The Social Contract, Rousseau questions the democratic idea that the majority will or “popular vote” is always the correct course of action. He also claimed that “true followers of Jesus would not make good citizens” and was later criticized for this statement. |
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Rousseau’s books also included A Discourse on the Origin of Inequality and A Discourse on Political Economy. His works often criticized religion and were therefore banned in both France and Geneva during his time. He was later forced to flee his arrest and eventually took refuge with the philosopher David Hume in Great Britain. He later suffered, what many claimed to be, a serious decline in mental health but his works have lived on as a testament to the spirit of the Romantic era. Although Rousseau is most known as a philosopher, he also wrote fiction and his novel Julie, or the New Heloise: Letters of Two Lovers Who Live in a Small Town at the Foot of the Alps was one of the best selling fictional works of the 18th century. Much like Whitman, Rousseau’s philosophy also permeates his art. A theory about authenticity or being “true to one’s heart” is woven throughout his romantic novel. The story of two lovers who are exchanging letters shows how the irrationality of love is often favored over the pride of reason.
In his day, Rousseau challenged the scientific rationalism of Voltaire and other popular intellectuals who had vainly called themselves “The Enlightened Ones”. He was at his best when he reminded his proud contemporaries of the limitations of both science and politics. With a reserved respect for many of the foundations that society has been built on, Rousseau sounded an early and much needed warning that material progress does not necessarily bring moral progress. References Rousseau, Jean Jacques, (2007), The Social Contract and Discourses, Noach Publishing Rousseau, Jean-Jacques, (1997), Julie, or the New Heloise: Letters of Two Lovers Who Live in a Small Town at the Foot of the Alps, Collected Writings of Rousseau, v. 6, Dartmouth; 1st edition |