About
Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778), born in Geneva, is a major figure of the Enlightenment. His work spans political philosophy, the novel, autobiography, and music. His writings, such as the Discourse on the Origin of Inequality and The Social Contract, have profoundly influenced modern thought. His concept of the general will and his critique of civilization marked the French Revolution and Romanticism. His manuscripts have been inscribed on UNESCO's Memory of the World Register since 2011.
* 1712-06-28 — † 1778-07-02
Major works
- Discours sur les sciences et les arts (1750)essay
- Discours sur l'origine et les fondements de l'inégalité parmi les hommes (1755)essay
- Julie ou la Nouvelle Héloïse (1761)novel
- Du contrat social (1762)treatise
- Émile ou De l'éducation (1762)treatise
Key milestones
- 1752His opera Le Devin du village is performed successfully at Fontainebleau before Louis XV.
- 1762Émile and The Social Contract are condemned, forcing Rousseau to flee France and then Switzerland.
- 2011His manuscript collections are inscribed on UNESCO's Memory of the World Register, the first Swiss entry.
Themes
general willcritique of civilizationnatural educationpopular sovereigntyfreedom and equality
Sources: unesco.org · plato.stanford.edu