Jean-Jacques Rousseau — Liberty, Inequality & Education

Jean-Jacques Rousseau — Liberty, Inequality & Education

Jean-Jacques Rousseau was born in Geneva (Switzerland) in the eighteenth century during the Age of Enlightenment. His ideas influenced the French Revolution, the U.S. Declaration of Independence, and later thought. However, his thinking was controversial and widely criticized, and many of his works were banned in parts of Europe.

Critique of Absolutism and Defense of Liberty

At a time when absolutism was in full swing as the prevailing political regime, Rousseau criticized the dominant ideas of church and state. He argued against the absolutism of church and state in Europe and defended individual liberty and toleration. He shares some principles with the Enlightenment, but he often extolled sentiment over reason and took a critical look at the cultural values of his time, challenging the rationalist and humanist spirit of the era. That is why he is sometimes described as a learned anti-Enlightenment thinker.

At the same time, Rousseau assisted in the publication of the Encyclopédie, and his ideas were reflected in the Declaration of Independence and the French Revolution. Rousseau defended a political system and a just society that would combine freedom and equality.

Major Works and Social Criticism

He argues that society and culture have perverted and corrupted human nature in his Discourse on the Sciences and Arts. In Discourse on the Origin and Foundations of Inequality among Men he attempts to identify which part of the human being is corrupted by society. Émile, or On Education, advocates a new concept of child education based on equality and nature; he also advocates a natural religion rather than institutional religion. Finally, in The Social Contract he opposes liberalism and aristocracy both ideologically and politically. This fragment belongs to that last work, The Social Contract.

Rousseau's Influence and Legacy

Rousseau is a revolutionary and radical thinker and a highly influential author. He was a precursor of Romanticism, nineteenth-century communist movements, and anarchism. His social thought is in dialogue with Hobbes and Locke while rejecting some of their ideas. He famously criticized private ownership and argued that social institutions can damage natural human goodness.

Repeated Themes (original emphasis preserved)

Rousseau is a revolutionary and radical thinker, a very influential author, a precursor of Romanticism, the nineteenth-century communist movements and anarchism. His way of social counter-transference is based on Hobbes and Locke while rejecting some of their ideas. He criticized private ownership. In Discourse on the Origin and Foundations of Inequality among Men he tries to find the part of the human being that is corrupted by society. Émile, or On Education advocates a new concept of education of the child based on equality and the natural order; he advocates a natural religion rather than involvement of religious institutions. Finally, in The Social Contract he is opposed to liberalism and aristocracy both ideologically and politically. This fragment belongs to that last work of Rousseau's, The Social Contract.

Key Works

• Discourse on the Sciences and Arts
• Discourse on the Origin and Foundations of Inequality among Men
• Émile, or On Education
• The Social Contract

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