Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Jean-Jacques Rousseau[2†]

Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778) was a Swiss-born philosopher, writer, and political theorist. Despite a challenging upbringing, he became a leading thinker of the 18th century. His influential works, including "The Social Contract" and "Emile", shaped political and educational thought. Rousseau's concept of the "general will" has had a lasting impact on modern politics. Additionally, he contributed to music and literature, influencing the Romantic movement with works like "Julie" and "Confessions". His ideas continue to resonate, affecting contemporary political philosophy, education, and literature[1†][2†][3†][4†].

Early Years and Education

Jean-Jacques Rousseau was born on June 28, 1712, in Geneva, Switzerland[1†][4†][6†]. His mother died a few days after his birth[1†][7†][6†], and his father, a watchmaker, raised him[1†][4†][6†]. His father, who had a fondness for learning, introduced Rousseau to classical Greek and Roman literature at a young age[1†][6†].

However, his father was forced to leave Geneva due to involvement in a duel when Rousseau was still young[1†][6†]. After his father’s departure, Rousseau was looked after by an aunt and cousin, and then for a time, he was taken in by a pastor named Lambercier[1†][7†]. Apart from some instruction in the principles of the Catholic faith, Rousseau had no formal education[1†][7†].

At the age of 16, Rousseau left Geneva and his apprenticeship under an engraver[1†][7†]. He traveled around France, doing odd jobs and earning small amounts of money[1†][7†]. During this time, he ended up in Turin, where he converted to Catholicism[1†][7†].

Rousseau’s fortunes changed when he met Louise Eléonore de Warens, a noblewoman who became his benefactress[1†][7†][4†]. She provided him with the education that turned him into a philosopher[1†][4†]. Under her influence, Rousseau furthered his education and social position[1†][8†]. He worked as a clerk and taught music in the Warens household, using his free time for extensive reading[1†][7†].

In 1740, Rousseau moved to the household of Abbé de Mably in Lyon, where he continued to teach music[1†][7†]. His early years were thus marked by a series of moves, a variety of jobs, and a largely self-directed education[1†][7†].

Career Development and Achievements

Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s career was marked by his contributions to philosophy, literature, and music[1†][2†].

Rousseau moved to Paris in 1742 to pursue a career as a musician and composer[1†][6†]. He befriended Denis Diderot, who later gained fame as an editor of the Encyclopédie[1†][6†]. Diderot commissioned Rousseau to write most of the articles for the Encyclopédie on musical subjects, as well as an article on political economy[1†][6†].

Rousseau’s career took a significant turn in 1749 when he won an essay writing competition[1†][9†]. His argument that the progress of knowledge and culture leads to the corruption of human behavior caught the attention of the intellectual community[1†][9†]. This success led to the publication of his first major political work, the “Discourse on Inequality,” in 1755[1†][9†].

His political philosophy influenced the progress of the Age of Enlightenment throughout Europe, as well as aspects of the French Revolution and the development of modern political, economic, and educational thought[1†][2†]. His “Discourse on Inequality” and “The Social Contract” are cornerstones in modern political and social thought[1†][2†].

Rousseau also made significant contributions to literature. His sentimental novel “Julie, or the New Heloise” (1761) was important to the development of preromanticism and romanticism in fiction[1†][2†]. His “Emile, or On Education” (1762) is an educational treatise on the place of the individual in society[1†][2†].

Rousseau’s autobiographical writings—the posthumously published “Confessions” (completed in 1770), which initiated the modern autobiography, and the unfinished “Reveries of the Solitary Walker” (composed 1776–1778)—exemplified the late 18th-century “Age of Sensibility”, and featured an increased focus on subjectivity and introspection that later characterized modern writing[1†][2†].

First Publication of His Main Works

Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s works have had a profound impact on political, philosophical, and educational thought[11†][1†]. Here are some of his main works:

• “On the Social Contract”: This work, published in 1762, contains the democratic and revolutionary principles that have made it one of the essential texts of political philosophy[11†]. In this work, Rousseau sought to determine how civil society could ensure freedom and equality[11†].
• “Reveries of a Solitary Walker”: This is an autobiographical work that was published posthumously in 1782[11†]. It is a collection of ten books, or “walks,” that describe Rousseau’s wanderings around Paris during the solitary end of his life[11†].
• “Confessions”: Published four years after Rousseau’s death in 1789, the “Confessions” is an autobiographical account of the first fifty-three years of Rousseau’s life[11†]. Rousseau declared that the work was groundbreaking with its opening line, “I have resolved on an enterprise…”[11†].
• “Emile”: Published in 1762, “Emile, or On Education,” outlined a process of education that would prevent man from being corrupted by society and instead nurture his natural virtues and goodness[11†]. Part-treatise, part-novel, the work recounts the life of a fictional character named Emile[11†].
• “Discourse on the Sciences and the Arts” (First Discourse): In 1750, Rousseau’s First Discourse won an essay contest held by the Academy of Dijon on the topic of, “Whether the restoration of the sciences and arts tended to purify morals?”[11†]. Rousseau argued that progress in the arts and sciences led to the corruption of virtue and morality[11†].
• “Discourse on the Origin of Inequality” (Second Discourse): First published in 1755, Rousseau’s Second Discourse was written in response to an essay competition held by the Academy of Dijon on the question of what was the “the origin of inequality among men” and whether such inequality was authorized by natural law[11†].

These works have not only shaped the Age of Enlightenment but continue to influence modern political and educational theories[11†][1†][12†].

Analysis and Evaluation

Jean-Jacques Rousseau was a prolific writer who explored a wide variety of topics and literary forms[13†]. His first serious effort at writing was a proposal for a new system of musical notation, which, although not enthusiastically received, established him as knowledgeable in music[13†]. He also dabbled in theater and wrote several plays[13†].

Rousseau’s two anthropological essays, “Discourse on the Sciences and the Arts” and “Discourse on the Origin of Inequality,” established him as an original writer of profound insight[13†]. These discourses set the stage for much of Rousseau’s subsequent work, including his novel “The New Héloïse,” his treatise on education “Émile,” and his work of political theory "The Social Contract"[13†].

With the publication of his first discourse, Rousseau vaulted to fame in the European world of letters[13†]. His thought marked the end of the European Enlightenment (the “Age of Reason”) and propelled political and ethical thinking into new channels[13†][1†]. His reforms revolutionized taste, first in music, then in the other arts[13†][1†]. He had a profound impact on people’s way of life; he taught parents to take a new interest in their children and to educate them differently[13†][1†]. He furthered the expression of emotion rather than polite restraint in friendship and love[13†][1†]. He introduced the cult of religious sentiment among people who had discarded religious dogma[13†][1†]. He opened people’s eyes to the beauties of nature, and he made liberty an object of almost universal aspiration[13†][1†].

Rousseau’s works have been subject to extensive analysis and critique, reflecting their significant influence on political philosophy, education, literature, and other fields[13†][12†][14†].

Personal Life

Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s personal life was as complex and intriguing as his professional one. His mother, Suzanne Bernard, died shortly after his birth[10†]. He was initially brought up by his father, a watchmaker[10†][4†], and he was reading French novels with his father at the age of three[10†][15†]. His father fled Geneva to avoid imprisonment when Jean-Jacques was ten[10†][15†].

Rousseau left Geneva at the age of 16 and travelled around France[10†][4†]. During this time, he found himself unexpectedly locked out of the city by its closed gates[10†][15†]. He faced the world with no money or belongings and no obvious talents[10†][15†].

In Annecy, France, on Palm Sunday, 1728, Rousseau found himself at the house of Louise Eleonore, Baronne de Warens[10†][15†]. Rousseau lived under her roof off and on for thirteen years and was dominated by her influence[10†][15†]. Madame de Warens supported him and found him jobs, most of which he disliked[10†][15†]. Still, Rousseau read, studied, and thought. He pursued music and gave lessons, and for a time he worked as a tutor[10†][15†].

In March 1745, Rousseau began an affair with Thérèse Le Vasseur[10†][15†]. She was twenty-four years old, a maid at Rousseau’s lodgings[10†][15†]. Their relationship was a significant part of his personal life[10†][15†].

Rousseau’s personal life was colorful, complicated, and included moments of great personal tragedy and intellectual achievement[10†]. His life can be described as peripatetic[10†].

Conclusion and Legacy

Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s influence on both political theory and practice, as well as the humanities, is profound[1†]. His writings have been cast as a champion of Enlightenment and a beacon of Romanticism, a father figure of radical revolutionaries and totalitarian dictators alike, an inventor of the modern notion of the self - and an advocate of stern ancient republicanism[1†][16†]. His thought marked the end of the European Enlightenment (the “Age of Reason”) and propelled political and ethical thinking into new channels[1†].

Rousseau’s reforms revolutionized taste, first in music, then in the other arts[1†]. He had a profound impact on people’s way of life; he taught parents to take a new interest in their children and to educate them differently[1†]. He furthered the expression of emotion rather than polite restraint in friendship and love[1†]. He introduced the cult of religious sentiment among people who had discarded religious dogma[1†]. He opened people’s eyes to the beauties of nature, and he made liberty an object of almost universal aspiration[1†].

Rousseau’s ideas about education have had a significant influence, and his focus on the child and how the child should be treated is evident even today[1†][17†]. He concluded that to whatever degree human nature is transformed by life in society, a degree so great that the subject becomes unrecognizable, to that degree it may also be positively shaped by education[1†][18†].

Rousseau’s legacy is complex and vast, influencing a wide range of fields from political philosophy to music, education, literature, and more[1†][16†][19†][18†][17†]. His works continue to be studied and his ideas continue to resonate in contemporary discussions about politics, education, and human nature[1†][16†][19†][18†][17†].

Key Information

• Also Known As: Unknown
• Born: Jean-Jacques Rousseau was born on June 28, 1712, in Geneva, Switzerland[1†][2†].
• Died: He died on July 2, 1778, in Ermenonville, France[1†][2†].
• Nationality: Swiss-born[1†][2†].
• Occupation: Philosopher, writer, and political theorist[1†][2†].
• Notable Works: His notable works include “The Social Contract”, “Emile, or On Education”, “Julie, or the New Heloise”, and “Confessions” among others[1†][2†].
• Notable Achievements: Rousseau’s work greatly influenced the progress of the Age of Enlightenment throughout Europe, as well as aspects of the French Revolution and the development of modern political, economic, and educational thought[1†][2†]. His novel “Julie, or the New Heloise” was important to the development of preromanticism and romanticism in fiction[1†][2†]. His educational treatise “Emile, or On Education” is an important work on the place of the individual in society[1†][2†].

References and Citations:

1. Britannica - Jean-Jacques Rousseau: Swiss-born French philosopher [website] - link
2. Wikipedia (English) - Jean-Jacques Rousseau [website] - link
3. Oxford Bibliographies - Jean-Jacques Rousseau - Philosophy [website] - link
4. BBC History - Historic Figures - Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712 - 1778) [website] - link
5. Simple Wikipedia (English) - Jean-Jacques Rousseau [website] - link
6. Great Thinkers - Biography - Jean-Jacques Rousseau [website] - link
7. World History - Jean-Jacques Rousseau [website] - link
8. Britannica - Life and works of Jean-Jacques Rousseau [website] - link
9. UNHCR - The relevance of Jean-Jacques Rousseau 300 years after his birth [website] - link
10. Columbia University - Columbia College - The Core Curriculum [website] [archive] - link
11. Great Thinkers - Major Works - Jean-Jacques Rousseau [website] - link
12. SparkNotes - Selected Works of Jean-Jacques Rousseau: Study Guide [website] - link
13. eNotes - Jean [website] - link
14. Google Books - An Analysis of Jean-Jacques Rousseau's The Social Contract - James Hill [website] - link
15. Encyclopedia of World Biography - Jean-Jacques Rousseau Biography [website] - link
16. University College London - UCL - The Equiano Centre - The legacies of Jean-Jacques Rousseau [website] - link
17. Gradesfixer - The Impact Jean Jacques Rousseau Had on Education [website] - link
18. Springer Link - Rousseau and the Redefinition of Nature and Education [website] - link
19. Great Thinkers - The Legacy of Rousseau - Jean-Jacques Rousseau [website] - link