Jean-Jacques Rousseau

-Born on June in Geneva which at the time was a city-state and a protestant associate of the swiss confederacy. -Jean Jacques Rousseau was known for being a Genevan philosopher, writer, and composer of the 18th century. -His political philosophy influenced the French revolution as well as the overall development of modern political, sociological, and educational thought. -Jean Jacques Rousseau died in France on July 2nd 1778 at the age of 66 Biography

Historical Context (Ari) ● Rousseau originally wrote the Discourse as an entry for an essay writing contest held by the Dijon Academy of Arts and Sciences in ● The essay’s prompt was “What is the origin of inequality among men, and is authorized by natural law.” ● Rousseau did not win, but decided to publish his work the following year. ● He attempted to raise awareness on the existing inequality amongst men.

Purpose of Writing (Alina) ● Written in response to a prize competition of the Academy of Dijon answering the prompt: “what is the origin of inequality among people, and is it authorized by natural law?” ● To examine the foundations of inequality among men, and to determine whether this inequality is authorized by natural law. ● Attempts to demonstrate that modern moral inequality, which is created by an agreement between men, is unnatural and unrelated to the true nature of man.

His Beliefs (Molly) ❖ Rousseau strongly believed that the advancement of civilization corrupted human morals and goodness ❖ Believed that all humans are born equal but then as they grow, they create their own inequality ❖ Rousseau also believed in the reality of a communal will. Basically, if you accept the social group in which you live and be part of it then you must also will everything your group decides on. A collective personality.

His Beliefs Cont. (Molly) ❖ Rousseau tended to mediate between thoughts of theorists on either end of the political spectrum. ➢ Sometimes he agreed with the conservatives like Hobbes, believing that consenting to subservience to an absolute sovereign, or monarch, was the only way that humans could escape the brutality of the state of nature. ➢ Other times he concurred with the liberals like Locke, who argued for maintaining human rights and protecting the people from the abuses of the “artificial state”.

Impact on Human History (Fran) ❖ Rousseau’s Discourse is considered one of the most powerful critiques of modernity ever written. ❖ Almost every major philosopher in the 18th century read it ❖ In it, he asks questions about who we are and what we want - questions that are still relevant today. ❖ Rousseau’s main idea of modern people existing within a constantly increasing system of needs in which others’ opinions are of the utmost importance is hugely influential. Traces of it can be found in Hegel’s idea of a civil society, and in Marx’s description of the alienated worker. ❖ His work is said to have influenced the French Revolution

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